asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to introduce measures to prevent telescopic sights from being fitted by the manufacturers to air rifles which are on sale to adolescents.

No. Although the misuse of air weapons is a matter for concern, my right hon. Friend does not believe that the fitting of a telescopic sight makes a weapon more likely to be misused. It is an offence to sell an air weapon to a person under 17.