Policing Minister Nick Herbert indicated yesterday that criminals who received suspended jail terms should be stripped of any gun licences.

Opening a Commons debate on firearms control, he ruled out the “wholesale change” of gun laws but said there was an “opportunity for careful adjustment” on legislation surrounding criminals.

The Home Affairs Select Committee yesterday said current firearm laws in England and Wales were a “complex and confused” mess and recommended that criminals with suspended jail terms should not be able to hold on to gun licences.

The committee’s report came after taxi driver Derrick Bird killed 12 people in a shooting spree in west Cumbria in June. He was sentenced 20 years ago to six months in prison, suspended for a year, for stealing decorating materials.

Mr Bird also had a drink-driving conviction and had been arrested over claims he “demanded payment with menaces” after a customer made off from his cab without paying.

Mr Bird, 52, was allowed to keep his shotgun certificate, which he had got just before his 17th birthday, because neither of his convictions warranted an immediate custodial sentence to trigger an automatic ban.

The cross-party group of MPs said: “We do not believe it appropriate for those convicted of offences which are serious enough to warrant a custodial sentence to retain their firearms.

“We are also of the view that those who receive shorter custodial sentences should not be allowed to possess firearms, and recommend accordingly.”

Mr Herbert said the government would respond in detail to the report in February.

But he told MPs: “This is clearly an area of concern that arose from the shootings in Cumbria, and it’s one that I raised myself with the chief constable when I visited the area in August.

“There may be an opportunity for careful adjustment here, depending on the nature of the offence.”

The committee also recommended that laws on firearms should be simplified.

Mr Herbert agreed that the legislation was “very complex in nature”, adding: “I certainly think this is an area that would benefit from further attention and I will give the committee’s recommendation careful consideration.”

The committee recommended a minimum age limit for gun licences, pointing out that about 1,000 people under the age of 18 have a licence, including children as young as 10 who are not allowed to use the guns unsupervised until they are 15.

Mr Herbert said: “I can appreciate why this issue was raised; however I think it’s important to appreciate that many young people enjoy shooting safely and responsibly.”