§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport rules apply to passengers transporting guns on air journeys(a) departing from, (b) arriving at and (c) passing through British airports. [157607]
§ Mr. McNulty [holding answer 1 March 2004]Passengers must surrender firearms or any dangerous articles before entering the restricted zone (RZ) of the airport and cannot regain possession of them in circumstances which would enable them or others to take them onto an aircraft or undermine the security of the airport. Thus departing passengers must surrender any firearms they wish to transport to airport or airline staff prior to undergoing security screening and entering the RZ. Arriving passengers are handed back firearms upon completion of their journey in the presence of a Customs Official or police officer. Transit and transfer passengers do not regain possession of their weapons in the RZ.
HM Customs and Excise are responsible for the checking of firearms licenses and certificates at the airport.