Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 4 Tachwedd 1965.
Mrs Joyce Butler
, Wood Green
12:00,
4 Tachwedd 1965
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce regulations to ensure that shotguns are not obtained without a police licence; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Frank Soskice
, Newport (Monmouthshire/Gwent)
I have considered on several occasions the suggestion that the Firearms Acts should be amended so as to make the possession of all types of shotguns subject to the firearm certificate procedure, but, for the reasons I gave the House during the Second Reading debate on the Firearms Act 1965, I do not consider that the results would justify the burdens that would be placed upon the police.
Mrs Joyce Butler
, Wood Green
Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that that reply will be very disappointing to those who are particularly concerned with stopping crimes of violence? When sawn-off shotguns can be used for murder, as they have been, is it not more important that they should be brought under the firearm certificate procedure rather than that we should be concerned about the slight inconvenience caused to legitimate users—which I believe to be the main reason why they have not been so controlled?
Sir Frank Soskice
, Newport (Monmouthshire/Gwent)
Sawn-off shotguns are already brought within the scope of the Firearms Act and are forbidden.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The Second Reading is the most important stage for a Bill. It is when the main purpose of a Bill is discussed and voted on. If the Bill passes it moves on to the Committee Stage. Further information can be obtained from factsheet L1 on the UK Parliament website.
