To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been carried out by his Department since the enactment of the Firearms Act 1982 of the extent to which imitation firearms now on sale can be converted to fire live ammunition without any special skill using tools in common use.

Under the Firearms Act 1982 any imitation firearm which is readily convertible to fire live ammunition is subject to the same strict licensing controls as a "real" firearm. Since that Act came into effect, it has been normal practice for manufacturers and retailers to submit model firearms to the Home Office forensic science service for an assessment of their status before releasing them for sale.