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Violent Crime Reduction Bill

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 reasonable excuse. Provisional data for 2005 suggest that 462 people were proceeded against. Clearly, there is an issue with air weapons, on which we need to concentrate. We do not want to see the abuse of air weapons. It is right to raise the age bar in the way in which we have suggested. We have had some success as a product of having done that in the past, which was welcomed by many, in particular the law enforcement agencies. That is why we believe that the policy is right. I am interested that the noble Baroness does not oppose the policy. She says that she supports it, which is very welcome.