§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to extend the Firearms (Amendment) Bill to firearms rendered incapable of firing live ammunition, but which will accept blank ammunition; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Firearms (Amendment) Bill does not amend the definition of a firearm in section 57(1) of the Firearms Act 1968 and there are no plans to do so.
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions his Department has held with historical re-enactment groups concerning the Firearms (Amendment) Bill; if he will list those groups; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what assistance his Department has sought from historical re-enactment groups concerning the Firearms (Amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have considered carefully representations from the Sealed Knot, the English Civil War Society, the Great War Society an the World War II Battle Re-enactment Society. I am satisfied that the Bill will not impose an unreasonable burden on their activities. Most of the guns they use will still be able to be held either on a firearm or a shotgun certificate.