§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to disbar from public office councillors convicted of firearms offences; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeNo new legislation is needed. Under section 80 of the Local Government Act 1972, a person is disqualified from being a councillor if within the previous five years he has been convicted of any offence and has had passed on him a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months without the option of a fine. There is a wide range of firearm offences and maximum sentences range from three months to life imprisonment. The disqualification of any individual councillor convicted of a firearms offence depends upon the sentence actually passed.