§ 4.57 p.m.
§ Lord Brougham and VauxMy Lords, I understand that no amendments have been set down to this Bill and that no noble Lord has indicated a wish to move a manuscript amendment or to speak in Committee. Therefore, unless any noble Lord objects, I beg to move that the order of commitment be discharged.
§ Moved, That the order of commitment be discharged.—(Lord Brougham and Vaux.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ Then, Standing Order No. 44 having been dispensed with (pursuant to Resolution of 12th May), Bill read a third time.
§ Lord Brougham and VauxMy Lords, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass.
§ Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Lord Brougham and Vaux.)
§ Lord MonsonMy Lords, in contrast to a stand I took on another piece of legislation ealier this afternoon, may I express pleasure at the passage of this modest Bill, which has received quite adequate scrutiny in both Houses of Parliament. I should also like to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Brougham, and the original sponsor of this Bill in another place. It is always good to see a Private Member's Bill succeed.
I said "modest Bill" because, bearing in mind that a crossbow is a much more lethal weapon than an airgun, some of us thought that the minimum age should have been raised to 18 or even higher. Your Lordships may have noticed that the Chelsea football hooligans, who earlier this week were sentenced to beteen 4½ and 10 years' imprisonment and who employed a crossbow as one of their many lethal weapons, were aged between 24 and 31. However, this modest but excellent Bill can no doubt be enlarged upon if necessary in the light of experience.
§ On Question, Bill passed.