HL Deb 14 October 1997 vol 582 cc114-5WA
Lord Hoimpatrick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is necessary for a registered firearms dealer to have an authorisation under Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 in order to deal in soft-nosed rifle ammunition used for the humane killing of animals.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

No. Registered firearms dealers are exempt form the need to have authority where they possess, purchase, acquire, sell or transfer expanding ammunition in the ordinary course of their business. Section 5A(7) of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended by Section 10 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997) refers.

Lord Hoimpatrick

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is necessary to have an authorisation under Section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 in order legally to transport or carry soft-nosed rifle ammunition used for the humane killing of animals from (a) a manufacturer to a dealer; or (b) from a dealer to a legally authorised user.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Under Section 3 of the Firearms Act 1968 a person who manufactures, sells or transfers any ammunition by way of trade or business must be registered as a firearms dealer. Dealers are exempt from the need to have Section 5 authority in respect of expanding ammunition which they possess, purchase, acquire, sell or transfer in the ordinary course of their business. In these circumstances, transfers from manufacturer to dealer and from dealer to authorised user can take place without authority provided they are undertaken in person by the transferor or his servants.