HC Deb 29 February 1988 vol 128 cc451-2W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many firearms, shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act 1968 have been entered, for each week in 1987 and in 1988 to date, in the register at London Heathrow airport terminal 1 as part of the personal baggage of passengers that are(a) held on a Great Britain firearms or shotgun certificate, (b) the Northern Ireland or (c) the Republic of Ireland equivalent;

(2) how many firearms, shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act 1968 have been entered, for each week in 1987 and in 1988 to date, in the register at London Heathrow airport terminal 4 as part of the personal baggage of passengers (a) that are held on a Great Britain firearms certificate, (b) with a Great Britain shotgun certificate and (c) not held on either a Great Britain firearms or shotgun certificate;

(3) how many firearms, shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act 1968 have been entered, for each week in 1987 and in 1988 to date, in the register at London Heathrow airport terminal 2, as part of the personal baggage of passengers which were held in the United Kingdom and out of compliance with the Firearms Act 1968;

(4) how many firearms, shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act 1968 have been entered for each week in 1987 and in 1988 to date, in the register at London Heathrow airport terminal 1, as part of the personal baggage of passengers, which were held in the United Kingdom and out of compliance with the Firearms Act 1968;

(5) how many firearms, shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act 1968 have been entered, for each week in 1987 and in 1988 to date, in the register at London Heathrow airport terminal 3 as part of the personal baggage of passengers (a) that are held on a Great Britain firearms certificate, (b) with a Great Britain shotgun certificate and (c) not held on either a Great Britain firearms or shotgun certificate;

(6) how many firearms, shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act 1968 have been entered, for each week in 1987 and in 1988 to date, in the register at London Heathrow airport terminal 2 as part of the personal baggage of passengers (a) that are held on a Great Britain firearms certificate, (b) with a Great Britain shotgun certificate and(c) not held on either a Great Britain firearms or shotgun certificate;

(7) how many firearms and shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act 1968 have been entered, for each week in 1987 and in 1988 to date, in the register at London Heathrow airport terminal 1, as part of the personal baggage of passengers (a) that are held on a Great Britain firearms certificate, (b) with a Great Britain shotgun certificate, and (c) not held on either a Great Britain firearms or shotgun certificate;

(8) how many firearms arid shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act 1968 have been entered, for each week in 1987 and in 1988 to date, in the register at London Heathrow airport terminal 3, as part of the personal baggage of passengers, which were held in the United Kingdom and out of compliance with the Firearms Act 1968;

(9) how many firearms and shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act 1968 have been entered, for each week in 1987 and in 1988 to date, in the register at London Heathrow airport terminal 4, as part of the personal baggage of passengers, which were held in the United Kingdom and out of compliance with the Firearms Act 1968.

Mr. Lilley

[holding answers 25 February 1988]: Customs and Excise keeps no register of the kind referred to by the hon. Member. However, firearms, shotguns and other items covered by the Firearms Act are liable to seizure by Customs if they are imported in contravention of import licensing restrictions. In the calendar year 1987, 39 firearms, two shotguns, and 58 other items covered by the Firearms Act were seized at Heathrow, together with a substantial quantity of ammunition.