Violent Crime Reduction Bill

My Lords, I briefly rise to support my noble friend’s amendment, to which I have added my name. I certainly understand and sympathise with the consternation of the reputable dealers in airguns across the country, both registered and unregistered, who find themselves faced with this restraint upon their trade after a consultation that took place some time ago, yet where we have still not seen the publications and analysis of the responses to that consultation. My noble friend says that he simply seeks, onthe record, a statement of assurances that the Government has already been able to give in writing. My noble friend is right to do so because these are important matters. I am certainly pleased that they will be thereby resolved. Can the Minister also respond to the point I put at Committee, which has so far gone unanswered? I asked whether the Government have taken into account the fact that not all air weapons have a specific number, so that it is more difficult to carry out any registration. I am aware that it could be advantageous for the trade were the Government to adopt a pragmatic approach of allowing registration by batches of sale. The Minister said that he would give ““further thought”” to that matter. What is the result of that further reflection?