HC Deb 21 July 1988 vol 137 c753W
39. Sir John Farr

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further changes he will propose to the Firearms (Amendment) Bill.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Government amendments to the Bill agreed in another place this week provide:

  1. (i) a power to prohibit by order any firearm which, by reason of the material of which it is composed, appears to the Secretary of State to be not readily detectable by apparatus for detecting metal objects;
  2. (ii) an exception from the effects of clause 7(2) to provide for the case in which the barrel of a rifle is temporarily shortened by a registered firearms dealer for the purpose of substituting a replacement barrel which is smooth-bored;
  3. (iii) for the payment of expenses to members of the firearms consultative committee; and
  4. (iv) for commencement orders to contain transitional provisions, where necessary.

We have also accepted proposed changes to the terms of reference to the firearms consultative committee and undertaken to consider some minor changes concerning the forfeiture of firearms on revocation of licences; arrangements for the use of rifles under the supervision of estate owners; the extension of the buy-in scheme to cover converted prohibited weapons; and the validity of visitors' permits.

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