§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make available the findings of the review of the method of costing firearms fees; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe report of the review is now available and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy today, together with a letter setting out the Government's conclusions on the findings. Copies of both the report and my letter to my hon. Friend are in the Library. I hope to discuss the findings of the review with representatives of the British Shooting Sports Council in early October. In the meantime, I am pleased to announce that the Association of Chief Police Officers has agreed to the establishment of a joint Home Office/ACPO working party with the following terms of reference
To examine the administration of the Firearms Act 1968; to consider what improvements could be made in order to reduce the amount of work undertaken by the police, without impairing the effectiveness of the Act; and to devise standardised procedures which could be adopted by all forces".Organisations and individuals wishing to submit written evidence on this subject should send it to Room 608, Home Office 50, Queen Anne's Gate London SW1H 9AT for consideration by the working party in due course.