Violent Crime Reduction Bill

My Lords, I will write to the noble Earl, not least because he is not speaking in the gap. I shall write to him because he has given me an interesting question. I could give an off-the-cuff answer but I am concerned that it might not be right. I assure noble Lords that there will be guidance on the provisions for schools and that it will be provided to schools. All staff involved in searches should receive appropriate training. The Criminal Justice Act legislation dealt with the introduction of a mandatory minimum sentence of five years—a matter to which the noble Lord referred—for unlawful possession of a prohibited firearm in the 12 months to September 2005. As I said earlier, there has been a 38 per cent reduction in fatal injuries caused by firearms and other air weapons. We therefore know that if we appropriately enforce provisions in a Bill such as this, we can influence behaviour. That is why we are opening up this issue, to see whether we cannot do the same in relation to knives. I am absolutely confident that when we look at the Bill in detail we will be able together to make what I hope will be significant and important improvements. There is clearly a willingness from all sides of the House to make a contribution to get this right. We all agree that the things we want to do within it are sound. I therefore hope that we will have a pleasurable and enjoyable Committee stage, Report stage and Third Reading, that we will send the Bill to the other place in remarkably good shape, and that it will not be the cause of contention or lack of comity between us. On Question, Bill read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.