Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on reducing the illegal movement and sale of high-powered semi-automatic weapons.

There is an urgent need to step up efforts to stop guns getting into the hands of criminals and extremists. The Government works closely with other EU Member States and the Commission in taking forward this important work. Discussion on the EU Firearms Directive (which sets tighter controls on owning and trading firearms) which would prohibit the private ownership of high-powered semi automatic weapons, is underway.

At the recent G6 meeting, the Home Secretary welcomed the action of her EU counterparts on reducing the illegal movement and sale of high-powered semi-automatic weapons and agreement on improved deactivation standards. She also raised the need for more to be done particularly on the threat from Acoustic Expansion Weapons (AEWs) and trafficking routes.