Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the consultation on firearms safety, which closed on 16 February 2021 did not consider the registration or licensing of air weapons.

The consultation on firearms safety proposed further measures on air weapons control following the earlier review of air weapons regulation in England and Wales. The consultation specifically sought views on the outcomes of that review, including strengthening legislation in relation to young persons, and the safe and secure storage of air weapons, with the aim of ensuring their safe and responsible use. The proposals in the consultation focused on improving air weapons safety, particularly in relation to children. The consultation also included further proposals relating to specific firearms safety issues that were raised during the passage of the Offensive Weapons Act 2019.