I beg to correct the Deputy Chairman.

I beg to correct the Deputy Chairman.

Yes, I am looking at the wrong script and, in so doing, I am holding the Committee up. This would be a terrible thing, and I apologise effusively. Turning to Clause 46, these amendments refine the current provisions contained in Section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, covering ticket touting at football matches....

Yes, I am looking at the wrong script and, in so doing, I am holding the Committee up. This would be a terrible thing, and I apologise effusively. Turning to Clause 46, these amendments refine the current provisions contained in Section 166 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, covering ticket touting at football matches....

I can certainly confirm that we have had some informal discussions with the gun trade; informal discussions take place all the time and we recognise the importance of keeping those informal contacts up. The noble Baroness raises an interesting issue about batches and it is something I will take away and give...

I can certainly confirm that we have had some informal discussions with the gun trade; informal discussions take place all the time and we recognise the importance of keeping those informal contacts up. The noble Baroness raises an interesting issue about batches and it is something I will take away and give...

I certainly agree with that. But my reference was in response to the point made by the noble Earl, Lord Shrewsbury. He thought that the legitimate gun-owning community in this country felt picked on because of the way in which government legislation is put forward. But that is not the...

I certainly agree with that. But my reference was in response to the point made by the noble Earl, Lord Shrewsbury. He thought that the legitimate gun-owning community in this country felt picked on because of the way in which government legislation is put forward. But that is not the...

moved Amendment No. 150A:"Page 53, line 22, after ““which”” insert ““section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33) or””" The noble Lord said: Schedule 1 makes corresponding provision for Northern Ireland in respect of the clauses in Part 2 concerning weapons, which provide for England and Wales. These consequential amendments reflect the provisions in Part 2 and its amendments in...

moved Amendment No. 150A:"Page 53, line 22, after ““which”” insert ““section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33) or””" The noble Lord said: Schedule 1 makes corresponding provision for Northern Ireland in respect of the clauses in Part 2 concerning weapons, which provide for England and Wales. These consequential amendments reflect the provisions in Part 2 and its amendments in...

moved Amendment No. 132A:"Page 42, line 10, at end insert—" ““(   )   Nothing in any enactment, instrument or agreement shall be construed as authorising a head teacher of a school to require a person to carry out a search under this section.”” The noble Lord said: This is a large and complicated group of amendments. In...

moved Amendment No. 132A:"Page 42, line 10, at end insert—" ““(   )   Nothing in any enactment, instrument or agreement shall be construed as authorising a head teacher of a school to require a person to carry out a search under this section.”” The noble Lord said: This is a large and complicated group of amendments. In...

I have put that point on the record today; I was the one who uttered the immortal words. I think that we are going in the right direction.

I have put that point on the record today; I was the one who uttered the immortal words. I think that we are going in the right direction.

This clause is an important part of the whole package of measures that aims to tackle the problem of air weapon misuse and I have given statistics on the significance and the scale of the problem. The Government have already introduced measures to address air weapon misuse, which have been welcomed....

This clause is an important part of the whole package of measures that aims to tackle the problem of air weapon misuse and I have given statistics on the significance and the scale of the problem. The Government have already introduced measures to address air weapon misuse, which have been welcomed....

The noble Earl knows that we have not published information in that way. But it is a fair point to make that younger people are much more likely to use air weapons less responsibly. In 2004, 440 people were proceeded against for carrying an air weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, in public without...

The noble Earl knows that we have not published information in that way. But it is a fair point to make that younger people are much more likely to use air weapons less responsibly. In 2004, 440 people were proceeded against for carrying an air weapon, whether loaded or unloaded, in public without...

The noble Baroness chides me, and I accept the reprimand. What we are trying to say is that we believe that we are going in the right direction. The age at which these weapons can be acquired is being raised as part of the package, because the regime could be looser...

The noble Baroness chides me, and I accept the reprimand. What we are trying to say is that we believe that we are going in the right direction. The age at which these weapons can be acquired is being raised as part of the package, because the regime could be looser...

This amendment seeks to confine the definition of the term ““modern firearm”” to purposes connected with the Violent Crime Reduction Bill and no wider. It might help if I briefly reminded the House that the reason we introduced the concept of a modern firearm was to allow realistic imitations of what...

This amendment seeks to confine the definition of the term ““modern firearm”” to purposes connected with the Violent Crime Reduction Bill and no wider. It might help if I briefly reminded the House that the reason we introduced the concept of a modern firearm was to allow realistic imitations of what...

moved Amendment No. 128A:"Page 38, line 40, at end insert—" ““(5A) An imitation firearm brought into Great Britain which does not conform to the specifications required of it by regulations under this section shall be liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts. (5B) In subsection (5A) ““the customs and excise Acts””...

moved Amendment No. 128A:"Page 38, line 40, at end insert—" ““(5A) An imitation firearm brought into Great Britain which does not conform to the specifications required of it by regulations under this section shall be liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts. (5B) In subsection (5A) ““the customs and excise Acts””...

I share the noble Baroness’s concern in tabling this new clause with the aim of ensuring that those using a knife in violent crime or carrying a knife without good reason receive appropriate sentences. The fatal stabbing of Kiyan Prince last week shows the devastating effect that knives can have if...

I share the noble Baroness’s concern in tabling this new clause with the aim of ensuring that those using a knife in violent crime or carrying a knife without good reason receive appropriate sentences. The fatal stabbing of Kiyan Prince last week shows the devastating effect that knives can have if...

As I am sure the noble Baroness and the noble Earl will accept, Ministers at all times attempt to be helpful. I give a word of thanks to the noble Earl on this matter, because he and Mr Batley have between them done a first-rate job in pointing out where the clause was...

As I am sure the noble Baroness and the noble Earl will accept, Ministers at all times attempt to be helpful. I give a word of thanks to the noble Earl on this matter, because he and Mr Batley have between them done a first-rate job in pointing out where the clause was...

moved Amendments Nos. 127A and 127B:"Page 36, line 18, at end insert—" ““(2A) It shall also be a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 32 in respect of conduct falling within subsection (1)(d) of that section to show that the conduct— (a)   was in the course of carrying on any trade or business;...

moved Amendments Nos. 127A and 127B:"Page 36, line 18, at end insert—" ““(2A) It shall also be a defence for a person charged with an offence under section 32 in respect of conduct falling within subsection (1)(d) of that section to show that the conduct— (a)   was in the course of carrying on any trade or business;...

moved Amendment No. 126A:"Page 36, line 18, at end insert—" ““(f) the purposes of functions that a person has in his capacity as a person in the service of Her Majesty.”” On Question, amendment agreed to. [Amendment No. 127 not moved.]

moved Amendment No. 126A:"Page 36, line 18, at end insert—" ““(f) the purposes of functions that a person has in his capacity as a person in the service of Her Majesty.”” On Question, amendment agreed to. [Amendment No. 127 not moved.]

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for the courteous, thorough and thoughtful way in which she spoke to her amendments. I will deal with them in turn. First, I ought to put right a mistake that I made, as I did not fully complete speaking to the government amendments. I had not properly considered my notes,...

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for the courteous, thorough and thoughtful way in which she spoke to her amendments. I will deal with them in turn. First, I ought to put right a mistake that I made, as I did not fully complete speaking to the government amendments. I had not properly considered my notes,...

moved Amendment No. 126:"Page 36, line 8, leave out ““that does not distribute any profits it makes””" The noble Lord said: This group contains government amendments and those tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Anelay. I shall try to cover both sets. Amendment No. 126 is a small but important amendment which will benefit private museums and...

moved Amendment No. 126:"Page 36, line 8, leave out ““that does not distribute any profits it makes””" The noble Lord said: This group contains government amendments and those tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Anelay. I shall try to cover both sets. Amendment No. 126 is a small but important amendment which will benefit private museums and...

moved Amendment No. 125A:"Page 35, line 35, at end insert—" ““(6A) A realistic imitation firearm brought into Great Britain shall be liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts. (6B) In subsection (6A) ““the customs and excise Acts”” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2).”” The...

moved Amendment No. 125A:"Page 35, line 35, at end insert—" ““(6A) A realistic imitation firearm brought into Great Britain shall be liable to forfeiture under the customs and excise Acts. (6B) In subsection (6A) ““the customs and excise Acts”” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2).”” The...

I make it clear at the outset that we are more than happy to consult on the details of any regulations to be made under this part of the Bill. We recognise that these are complex issues and we would want to have a close dialogue with the gun trade, the...

I make it clear at the outset that we are more than happy to consult on the details of any regulations to be made under this part of the Bill. We recognise that these are complex issues and we would want to have a close dialogue with the gun trade, the...