Violent Crime Reduction Bill

I shall answer one point from the noble Lord, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, at the outset. It is simply that we are always open to receiving ideas for what may be described as sensible deregulation. As the government spokesman on regulatory matters in your Lordships’ House, I am open to offers there and can be positive in that regard. As to rumours circulating among self-loaders in Rannoch Moor, I am not sure whether I can be quite as helpful as the noble Lord would like. Regarding Amendment No. 124B, there is nothing as we see it in Clause 30 that would in any way limit the number of primers that may be bought or sold. The requirement is, essentially, for a person purchasing primers to have a certificate authorising him to possess ammunition or a firearm of a relevant kind. As long as his certificate allows him to possess ammunition for such a firearm—which is defined in a way that excludes a shotgun, an air weapon or one chambered for rimfire ammunition—he will be able to purchase as many primers as he would like, without reference to the number of rounds of ammunition that he is allowed to possess. As is currently the case, he will of course be unable to use the primers to make up more rounds than his certificate allows him to possess at any one time. We do not believe that the amendment is necessary and I invite the noble Lord to withdraw it in the light of the explanation that I have provided. Amendment No. 147D is a technical amendment. One issue we looked at closely in another place was the definition of primers. To meet the concerns of the shooting community, we tightened up the wording and introduced amendments to refer to,"““cap-type primers designed for use in metallic ammunition for a firearm””." We also wanted to cover primed cases and came forward with a reference to an,"““empty cartridge case incorporating a primer””." The amendment seeks to reflect this change in Clause 43’s wording by deleting the reference to anything in which such a primer is contained and substituting the agreed terminology. As such, it is purely technical in nature and I commend it accordingly.