§ 2.59 p.m.
§ Lord Burnham asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What steps they will take to ensure that the persons to be nominated to the Firearms Consultative Committee in August are properly qualified.
§ Lord Williams of MostynMy Lords, under Section 22(1) of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, members of the Firearms Consultative Committee must appear to the Secretary of State to have knowledge and experience of one or more of the following matters: the possession, use or keeping of, or transactions in, firearms; weapons technology; and the administration or 259 enforcement of the provisions of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1997. Subsection (2) provides that the use of firearms includes their use for sport or competition.
The current appointments are to expire at the end of August 1998. The Secretary of State is considering the composition of the committee and of course will give full attention to the statutory requirements.
§ Lord BurnhamMy Lords, I am most grateful to the noble Lord for that helpful reply because it has been suggested that members of other bodies with no knowledge of firearms may be invited to serve on this committee. Will the Minister confirm that the Government intend to keep the committee intact in its present form?
§ Lord Williams of MostynMy Lords, the present life of the committee is due to continue until the year 2000. Obviously, one keeps these matters under review. The Secretary of State is considering what should happen when the present appointments reach their expiry date in August of this year.