§ 2. Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive a report from chief constables about procedures regarding the arming of the police.
§ Mr. R. CarrI have received these reports and am writing to the hon. Member.
While there has been no change in the policy and procedures controlling the issue of firearms to police officers, there has been a substantial increase over the last three years in the number of occasions on which firearms have been issued. I intend to keep this situation under close review.