HL Deb 23 March 1998 vol 587 cc231-2WA
The Earl of Haddington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why and with what authority Dr. Ian Oliver QPM, Chief Constable of Grampian Constabulary, claimed to have received Royal Assent for the 100-page "Firearms Act" which he published on 1 January 1993; and in the course of production:

  1. (a) how many man hours did it take, and of whose time, in Grampian Constabulary and Police Authority;
  2. (b) what costs were incurred to Grampian Constabulary;
  3. (c) who or what authority was responsible for its commission;
  4. (d) what were the costs in manpower, financial and otherwise to other Scottish forces;
  5. (e) what contribution or funding, if any, was made by:
    1. (i) the Scottish Office;
    2. (ii) the Home Office; and
    3. (iii) any other party, authority or organisation. [HL1009]

Lord Sewel

I am aware of no such claim by Dr. Oliver about the draft Firearms Act which he, and another chief constable, submitted on their own initiative to the Firearms Consultative Committee, of which they were both then members. The Committee is appointed by the Home Secretary but neither the Home Office nor the Scottish Office funded the production of the paper. The remaining information sought by the question is not available. It is open to all members of the Firearms Consultative Committee to submit papers on issues they consider relevant to the Committee's area of work. The contents of such papers and the manner of their production are matters for individual members.