§ Mr. SalmondI beg to move amendment No. 18, in page 14, line 6, at end insert—
'Provided that a chief officer of police shall not grant a certificate for a small-calibre pistol where, by doing so, he would thereby increase the number of small-calibre pistols for which certificates continued in force in a police authority area above the number of certificates for small-calibre pistols which were in force in that area on 16th October 1996.'.The purpose of the amendment is to place a cap on the number of .22 pistol licences that could be issued. The Minister knows of my concern that over time we may see the trading down from higher-calibre weapons to new .22 weapons in compensation. In the 20 or so seconds that remain, can the Minister tell us whether she has given that matter consideration and can think of any other way to stop, in the medium term, trading from higher calibre weapons to new .22 weapons?
§ Mr. John CarlisleAmendment No. 18 should be totally rejected by the House because trying to persuade people to purchase certain types of weapons using the compensation, inadequate though it may be—
It being Eleven o'clock, MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER proceeded, pursuant to the Order [18 November and this day], to put forthwith the Question already proposed from the Chair.Amendment negatived.MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER then proceeded to put forthwith the Questions necessary for the disposal of the business to be concluded at Eleven o'clock.