§ Lord Harris of Greenwichasked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions they have had with chief police officers of England and Wales concerning psychologically damaged people who possess firearms, and whether they propose to make any statement of policy before the summer recess.
§ Baroness BlatchSection 27 of the Firearms Act 1968 prohibits a chief officer of police from granting a firearms certificate to someone of intemperate habits or unsound mind. In 1992 the Firearms Consultative Committee discussed whether it would be possible to strengthen the provisions of the Firearms Acts regarding the granting of firearm certificates to people with mental disorders. The committee includes chief officers from England and Wales and Scotland.
The Government have announced the setting up of an inquiry into the shootings in Dunblane Primary School, to be conducted by Lord Cullen, who will have the power to look at the existing controls on firearms and to make recommendations. The Government will consider any recommendations for changes in firearms controls which the inquiry may propose.