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Division No. 1

CONTENTS
Abinger, L.
Ackner, L.
Ailesbury, M.
Alderdice, L.
Aldington, L.
Allenby of Megiddo, V.
Ampthill, L.
Annaly, L.
Arran, E.
Attlee, E.
Belhaven and Stenton, L.
Blake, L.
Blease, L.
Boardman, L.
Brain, L.
Braybrooke, L.
Brentford, V.
Brookeborough, V.
Brougham and Vaux, L.
Burnham, L.
Burton, L.
Butterworth, L.
Caithness, E.
Calverley, L.
Campbell of Alloway, L.
Carlisle, Bp.
Carnarvon, E.
Carnegy of Lour, B.
Carnock, L.
Chalfont, L.
Charteris of Amisfield, L.
Clancarty, E.
Clifford of Chudleigh, L.
Clitheroe, L.
Congleton, L.
Cornwallis, L.
Cottesloe, L.
Craig of Radley, L.
Crathorne, L.
Crickhowell, L.
Croham, L.
Crook, L.
Cross, V.
De Saumarez, L.
Denham, L.
Derwent, L.
Dixon-Smith, L.
Donaldson of Kingsbridge, L.
Downshire, M.
Ellenborough, L.
Elles, B.
Elton, L.
Erroll, E.
Exmouth, V.
Feversham, L.
Fitt, L.
Gage, V.
Gainsborough, E.
Geddes, L.
Gisborough, L.
Glasgow, E.
Gray, L.
Harding of Petherton, L.
Harmar-Nicholls, L.
Harris of High Cross, L.
Hemphill, L.
Hertford, M.
Holderness, L.
HolmPatrick, L.
Howell, L.
Howie of Troon, L.
Hussey of North Bradley, L.
Hylton, L.
Hylton-Foster, B.
Iddesleigh, E.
Ilchester, E.
Inchyra, L.
Kimball, L. [Teller.]
Kinloss, Ly.
Kintore, E.
Kitchener, E.
Knutsford, V.
Lane of Horsell, L.
Leigh, L.
Liverpool, E.
Lucas of Chilworth, L.
McNair, L.
Mallalieu, B.
Marsh, L.
Massereene and Ferrard, V.
Mersey, V.
Monckton of Brenchley, V.
Monson, L.
Monteagle of Brandon, L.
Moran, L.
Mottistone, L.
Mowbray and Stourton, L.
Moyne, L.
Munster, E.
Newall, L.
Norfolk, D.
Norrie, L.
Northbourne, L.
Northesk, E.
Northumberland, D.
Ogmore, L.
Onslow, E.
Palmer, L.
Park of Monmouth, B.
Pearson of Rannoch, L. [Teller.]
Peel, E.
Peyton of Yeovil, L.
Plummer of St. Marylebone, L.
Quinton, L.
Rankeillour, L.
Reay, L.
Rennell, L.
Robson of Kiddington, B.
St. John of Bletso, L.
Saint Oswald, L.
Saltoun of Abernethy, Ly.
Sandhurst, L.
Shrewsbury, E.
Simon, V.
Simon of Glaisdale, L.
Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, L.
Spens, L.
Stallard, L.
Stanley of Alderley, L.
Stoddart of Swindon, L.
Swansea, L.
Swinfen, L.
Swinton, E.
Taverne, L.
Temple of Stowe, E.
Teviot, L.
Thomas of Gwydir, L.
Thurlow, L.
Tollemache, L.
Vernon, L.
Vinson, L.
Wade of Chorlton, L.
Warnock, B.
Weatherill, L.
Wharton, B.
Whitelaw, V.
Wilberforce, L.
Wilson of Tillyorn, L.
Wrenbury, L.
Wyatt of Weeford, L.
Wynford, L.
Yarborough, E.
Zouche of Haryngworth, L.

NOT-CONTENTS
Aberdare, L.
Acton, L.
Addington, L.
Addison, V.
Ailsa, M.
Alexander of Tunis, E.
Anelay of St. Johns, B.
Astor, V.
Astor of Hever, L.
Balfour, E.
Beaumont of Whitley, L.
Bellwin, L.
Beloff, L.
Berkeley, L.
Blatch, B.
Bowness, L.
Bridgeman, V.
Byford, B.
Cadman, L.
Campbell of Croy, L.
Carlisle, E.
Carmichael of Kelvingrove, L.
Carter, L.
Chadlington, L.
Chalker of Wallasey, B.
Chelmsford, V.
Chesham, L. [Teller.]
Clinton-Davis, L.
Cockfield, L.
Courtown, E.
Cowley, E.
Cranborne, V. [Lord Privy Seal.] Cuckney, L.
Cumberlege, B.
Davidson, V.
Dean of Beswick, L.
Dean of Harptree, L.
Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, B.
Denbigh, E.
Denton of Wakefield, B.
Digby, L.
Donoughue, L.
Dormand of Easington, L.
Dubs, L.
Eccles of Moulton, B.
Elis-Thomas, L.
Elliott of Morpeth, L.
Farrington of Ribbleton, B.
Ferrers, E.
Fraser of Carmyllie, L.
Gallacher, L.
Geraint, L.
Gladwin of Clee, L.
Glenamara, L.
Goschen, V.
Gould of Potternewton, B.
Graham of Edmonton, L.
Gray of Contin, L.
Grimston of Westbury, L.
Hailsham of Saint Marylebone, L.
Harris of Greenwich, L.
Harris of Peckham, L.
Haskel, L.
Hayman, B.
Hayter, L.
Henderson of Brompton, L.
Henley, L.
Hilton of Eggardon, B.
Hollis of Heigham, B.
Home, E.
Hooper, B.
Hooson, L.
Hope of Craighead, L.
Howe, E.
Hughes, L.
Inglewood, L.
Jay of Paddington, B.
Jeger, B.
Jenkin of Roding, L.
Jenkins of Putney, L.
Judd, L.
Lester of Herne Hill, L.
Lindsay, E.
Lockwood, B.
Long, V.
Lovell-Davis, L.
Lucas, L.
Luke, L.
McConnell, L.
McIntosh of Haringey, L.
Mackay of Ardbrecknish, L.
Mackay of Clashfern, L. [Lord Chancellor.] Mackay of Drumadoon, L.
Mackie of Benshie, L.
McNally, L.
Mar and Kellie, E.
Merlyn-Rees, L.
Merrivale, L.
Methuen, L.
Miller of Hendon, B.
Morris of Castle Morris, L.
Mountevans, L.
Murton of Lindisfarne, L.
Nicol, B.
Orr-Ewing, L.
Paul, L.
Pender, L.
Perry of Walton, L.
Peston, L.
Pilkington of Oxenford, L.
Platt of Writtle, B.
Ponsonby of Shulbrede, L.
Ramsay of Cartvale, B.
Rawlings, B.
Renton, L.
Rodgers of Quarry Bank, L.
Rotherwick, L.
Russell, E.
Sainsbury, L.
St. Davids, V.
Seccombe, B.
Serota, B.
Sewel, L.
Shepherd, L.
Skelmersdale, L.
Strabolgi, L.
Strathclyde, L. [Teller.]
Symons of Vernham Dean, B.
Taylor of Warwick, L.
Thomas of Gresford, L.
Thomson of Monifieth, L.
Trefgarne, L.
Trumpington, B.
Turner of Camden, B.
Wallace of Saltaire, L.
Westbury, L.
Wilcox, B.
Williams of Elvel, L.
Wise, L.

Resolved in the affirmative, and amendment agreed to accordingly.

4 Feb 1997 : Column 1562

4.58 p.m.

[Amendment No. 13 not moved.]

Lord Pearson of Rannoch moved Amendment No. 14:

Page 4, line 4, at end insert--
("(2A) A pistol shall not be a small-calibre pistol for the purposes of this section provided--
(a) the slide assembly or cylinder or other component part specified under subsection (2B) below has been removed and stored on the premises of a licensed pistol club; and
(b) the firearms certificate for the pistol specifies premises other than the licensed pistol club specified in paragraph (a) above at which the remainder of the firearm shall be stored.

4 Feb 1997 : Column 1563

(2B) If he is satisfied that it is necessary in the interest of public safety, the Secretary of State may by order specify a component part other than the slide assembly or cylinder to be stored at a licensed club, and may do so in respect of a particular model or type of pistol to which this section applies.
(2C) This section applies to pistols chambered for .22 or smaller rim-fire cartridges.").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move.

The Lord Chancellor (Lord Mackay of Clashfern): My Lords, I now call Amendment No. 15 as an amendment to Amendment No. 14.

Lord Swansea moved Amendment No. 15 as an amendment to Amendment No. 14:

Line 16, at end insert ("or a pistol, chambered for use with a centre-fire cartridge which is not more than 1.1 inches in length inclusive of the missile and which uses a missile not more than .32 inches in diameter, which is of a description prescribed in rules made by the Secretary of State.").

The noble Lord said: My Lords, this amendment extends the scope of the calibres to the .32 wad-cutter cartridge, which is a very low-powered cartridge. It is widely used in international competitions--not in the Olympic Games, but in the Commonwealth Games, and in other international events. It is a very low-powered cartridge. It employs what is referred to as a wad-cutter bullet. That is a bullet with a flat nose and punches a clean-cut hole in a paper target. The bullet is seated entirely within the case so it does not project beyond its mouth.

It has been stated by the Birmingham Proof House that this cartridge cannot be loaded above a certain velocity without exceeding safe pressures, which are very important points for target practice. There is no reason to exclude this type of pistol and to confine ourselves to .22 rimfire pistols. This would be the only centre-fire cartridge which I envisage being employed and it is very low-powered.

It has been stated by Mr. Warlow, who is the foremost scientific adviser, that he has no knowledge of a cartridge of this calibre being used in any crime in the past 25 years. It is comparable in velocity and in its striking energy to the .22 long rifle cartridge. There is a fractional difference between the two. It is a very effective weapon indeed and very popular for target shooting. I beg to move.

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