§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received advocating stricter controls on shotguns and proposing that they should be numbered; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawWe have received representations from various sources, including hon. Members, local authority associations, local authorities and police authorities and members of the public. Only a few of these specifically refer to numbering, but many suggest that section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 should be extended so as to cover long-barrelled shotguns, which would in effect necessitate the introduction of a numbering system. My right hon. and learned Friend continues to keep the law on shotguns under close review, but we have no plans at present to introduce a numbering requirement.