§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 20 June 1997,Official Report, column 307–08, if he will list the licences which have been granted to companies under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 to handle, distribute, store or manufacture electric shock devices since that date. [19454]
§ Mr. MichaelNo. The position remains as set out in my reply to my hon. Friend of 20 June 1997,Official Report, columns 307–08. Since 1992, only one company has been granted authority to possess prohibited electro-shock devices, and that authority does not allow the company to sell or otherwise dispose of the devices in any way. When the time comes for the company to dispose of the weapons, they will have to apply for their authority to be varied so as to allow them to do so. That authority will be worded to ensure that the devices are disposed of safely with no risk of their falling into the wrong hands.
Meanwhile, it remains Government policy that no authority to possess, purchase or acquire, manufacture, sell or transfer electro-shock weapons will be granted unless there are wholly exceptional and compelling reasons for so doing.
§ Ann ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which police forces witnessed the Air Taser electro-shock device being demonstrated; [19455]
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the completed evaluation carried out by the Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch into the Taser electro-shock device. [19456]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch has not evaluated the Taser electro-shock device and has no plans to do so. I am not aware of any demonstration of the device in this country.