Written question asked by Baroness Hoey (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 May 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 June 2003. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 June 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations he has received from the Firearms Consultative Committee on Clauses 42 to 44 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill; and if he will place a copy in the Library. (Letter in Library Dep 03/1489).

Answer: Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Firearms Consultative Committee on Clauses 42 to 44 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [115972] Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Chairman of the Firearms Consultative Committee wrote to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 28 April supporting the introduction of clause 42 but expressing some reservations, which not all members shared, about the proposed changes in the age limits for the unsupervised use of air weapons by people under 17 years old as set out in clause 43. The Committee were also concerned that the order-making power proposed in clause 44 for dealing with weapons that use the air cartridge system was too widely drawn and that compensation should be paid to existing owners if a ban was introduced. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

Secondary information