§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Trade what consultation officials of his Department have been engaged in with a view to establishing a new ammunition proofing system in Great Britain, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to a decision of the Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Small Arms about testing ammunition for small arms for civil use before it is sold commercially in the territories of contracting parties to the Convention for the Reciprocal Recognition of Proof Marks of Small-Arms. The United Kingdom acceded to the convention in March 1980. Implementation of the decision will be obligatory in 1985. Although my officials have been in touch with the proof houses, consultations have yet to take place on implementing the decision in the United Kingdom.