§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what steps he takes to ensure that surplus firearms sold from Armed Forces' stocks do not fall into the hands of the Irish Republican Army or of any other persons, at home or abroad, who might use them for unlawful purposes;
(2) what consultations he undertook before authorising the sale to arms dealers or any other person of surplus Browning 9 mm. automatic pistols from Armed Services' stocks.
§ Mr. PattieSales of surplus Service small arms to overseas Governments are subject to the usual clearance procedures and, in the case of sales through accredited agents, to an export licence being granted. Sales to registered firearms dealers in this country, are subject to the provisions of the Firearms Act 1968, which includes a range of neasures designed to prevent firearms falling into the wrong hands. The procedures followed by the Ministry of Defence in such cases included notification of such sales to the appropriate police authorities, but no other form of consultation.
§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he considers it necessary or advisable to cause the firing pins to be filed off surplus Armed Forces' handguns before they are sold to any persons outside the public service.
§ Mr. PattieThe question of whether such measures as removing the firing pins should be a condition of any further sales of surplus Service small arms forms part of the review of our disposals policy which is under way at present.