HL Deb 14 May 1998 vol 589 c128WA
The Earl of Haddington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the statement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in her review of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 that she will not be bringing forward legislation to ban handguns in Northern Ireland, they will now repeal the 1997 Firearms (Amendment) Acts. [HL1818]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Government have no intention of repealing either of the Firearms (Amendment) Acts 1997. For historical reasons, the controls on the lawful possession of firearms in Northern Ireland have long differed from those on the mainland. The proposals in the Northern Ireland Office's consultation document will have no bearing on the arrangements in the rest of the United Kingdom.