§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the(a) name, (b) occupation or former occupation, (c) place of residence and (d) annual honorarium, allowance and/or payment of each member of the Advisory Committee on Firearms; and if he will make a statement; [19017]
(2) what recommendations he has received from the Advisory Committee on Firearms in relation to the certification of shotguns in the past five years; and if he, will make a statement. [19019]
§ Mr. MacleanThe Firearms Consultative Committee is a statutory body set up under section 22 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988. Members appointed to the committee are chosen from those who appear to the Home Secretary to have knowledge and experience of either the possession, use or keeping of, or transactions in firearms; or weapon technology; or the administration or enforcement of the provisions of the Firearms Acts in Great Britain.
A list of committee members with biographies relevant to their appointment is contained in the committee's fifth annual report, a copy of which is in the Library. Since the report was published, Lord Shrewsbury has assumed chairmanship of the committee and Sir Malcolm Guthrie has resigned. Communications to committee members should be addressed to the Secretary, Firearms Consultative Committee, 50 Queen Anne's gate, London SW1H 9AT. Members receive no allowance, but travelling expenses are reimbursed.
The recommendations received from the Firearms Consultative Committee in the past five years including those relating to the certification of shotguns are listed in the committee's fifth annual report.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the differences between the current legislation governing(a) firearms and (b) shotgun certificates; and if he will make a statement; [19027]
(2) what plans he has to bring the legislation governing shotgun certificates into line with the legislation governing firearm certificates; and if he will make a statement. [19026]
§ Mr. MacleanBefore issuing either a firearm or shotgun certificate, a chief officer of police must consider whether the applicant is, by virtue of a previous conviction, prohibited from possessing firearms and192W whether the applicant can be permitted to possess firearms without danger to the public safety or to the peace. In addition, a firearm certificate will be refused where the chief officer is not satisfied that the applicant has a good reason for possessing the firearm(s) in question. A shotgun certificate will be refused where the chief officer is satisfied that the applicant does not have a good reason for possessing shotguns. The holder of a firearm certificate must obtain further authority from the police for each additional firearm he wishes to keep. The holder of a shotgun certificate may acquire additional shotguns subject to notifying the police of each acquisition.
There are no plans to bring the legislation governing the issue of shotgun certificates in Great Britain completely into line with that for firearm certificates, but the Firearms Consultative Committee in its fifth annual report recommended that a working group be set up to consider the issue of licensing as a whole. The merits of a single certificate to cover both firearms and shotguns will be considered.