§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he has made that guidelines relating to the manufacture, marketing and supply of(a) electro-shock weapons and (b) instruments of torture are being fully complied with; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what further steps he is taking to review the operation of guidelines relating to the manufacture, marketing and supply of (a) electro-shock weapons and (b) weapons of torture; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 30 January 1995]: Electric shock weapons are prohibited by section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968, and cannot be possessed, manufactured or sold without the authority of the Secretary of State. The procedures for granting or refusing authority to possess prohibited weapons are kept under regular review.
It is not practicable to control trade in the wide range of goods which could be misused for the purposes of torture. The Government are willing to look at any tangible evidence of British companies knowingly involved in supplying materials and expertise for the purposes of repression.