HL Deb 09 June 2003 vol 649 c7WA
Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken to ensure that United Kingdom practice complies with the record-keeping and marking firearms requirements as set out in the United Nations Firearms Protocol, and to encourage other governments to meet the same standards of record-keeping and marking of firearms. [HL3033]

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

We are currently working towards ratification of the Firearms Protocol in conjunction with the European Commission, with particular regard to the length of time for which records must be kept. The marking of weapons is a key requirement of the protocol where further international consensus is needed. We are actively involved in the UN Panel of Governmental Experts which is examining an international instrument on the marking and tracing of small arms.