§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the extension of his Department's approval to the Drunmore shooting centre on 15 February for small and full bore rifles.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI would refer the hon. Member to the reply to his earlier question on 31 March, at column687.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why his Department authorised the extension of approval for the Drunmore shooting centre on 15 February to cover small and full bore rifles.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggApproval was extended on the request of the club in question, against the criteria set out in the reply which I gave to a question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 15 January at column446.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which chief officer of police and of which force has been appointed to assist Mrs. Vickers of the Police Complaints Authority to investigate complaints about operational matters and the administration of the Firearms Act 1968 in relation to the firearms certificate granted and varied to the late Michael Ryan.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe investigating officer is Mr. G. E. Hedges, assistant chief constable of the Thames Valley police.
11W
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the rights and entitlements which accrue to a firearms club which is approved by his Department under the terms of the Firearms Act 1968 as against a firearms club which is not approved for the use of small bore and full bore rifles and pistols and revolvers.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggApproved clubs are eligible to apply for a club firearm certificate at no cost. This enables members who do not hold their own firearm certificate to use firearms and ammunition belonging to the club when they are engaged as members in drill or target practice. Members of those clubs which are not approved must hold a personal firearm certificate which specifies the firearms and ammunition they are entitled to possess.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received, giving dates from(a) the chief constable of Thames Valley police and (b) the Thames Valley police authority, as a result of the inquest into deaths caused by the late Michael Ryan on 19 August 1987, seeking amendments to the Firearms Act 1968.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNone. The chief constable's observations on firearms legislation were included in his report to my right hon. Friend on the shootings.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley police as to what disciplinary action giving dates he(a) has taken or (b) proposes to take against police officers involved in (i) operational firearms matters and (ii) administration of the Firearms Act 1968 in relation to the grant of or variation to the firearms certificate of the late Michael Ryan.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNo decisions on disciplinary action can be taken until the investigation being carried out under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority has been completed.