To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any representations concerning the implications of implementing article 5(a) of EC draft directive Com. 89/446 final on the possession of firearms by recreational shooters in (a) Wales and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

We have received many representations about the draft directive on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons including representations concerning article 5 of the proposal.Following amendments agreed in the Council, the proposed minimum age limit of 18 years for the possession of firearms under article 5(a) of the directive would not apply in the case of hunting or target shooting. As the directive now stands, the current domestic position would, therefore, remain unchanged.However, the final content of the directive depends upon second reading consideration by the European Parliament and subsequent final consideration by the Council.