§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set a minimum age requirement for(a) possession of and (b) use of weapons under (i) section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968 and (ii) section 2 of the Firearms Act 1968. [7247]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 15 October 2001]: As indicated in the Government's response to the Home Affairs Select Committee's (HAC) second report on Controls over Firearms, we do not believe there is a need for a minimum age limit for the possession and use of a firearm providing that young people below a certain age are under proper adult supervision. The present legal position is complex, and different age limits apply to different types of firearms according to the circumstances in which they are used and the degree of supervision. We have therefore asked the Firearms Consultative Committee to look at this issue in the context of the Government's response to the HAC and to advise on the detailed implications of any changes.