§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library all proposals made 577W for tighter laws on firearms in Europe; and if he will report on the present position of any relevant negotiations.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees:I have arranged for a copy of the European Convention on the Control of the Acquisition and Possession of Firearms by Individuals to be placed in the Library of the House. The aim of the convention is to prevent the avoidance of national firearms controls by persons purchasing weapons in participating countries other than their own. The United Kingdom has signed the convention but reserved the right not to apply the "double authorisation" procedure—Chapter III—and not to apply the notification procedure—Chapter II—in respect of shot guns, air weapons, ammunition and telescopic sights. Some amendments will be needed
Grade Number in post Salary scale Chief probation officer 59* £5,770–£8,875§including supplements Deputy chief probation officer 23 75 per cent. of the chief officer's salary Assistant chief probation officer 145† £6,297–£6,810 (4-point scale) Senior probation officer 933‡ £5,193–£5,850(5-point scale) Main-grade officer 4,027 £3,624–£5,034 provinces (10-point scale) £3,822–£5,313 London (11-point scale) Part-time officer 121 As above pro rata Temporary officer 20 Based on main grade Total 5,328 *Figure includes four regional staff development officers. †Figure includes four assistant regional staff development officers. ‡Figure includes two assistant regional staff development officers. §The scale consists of 22 incremental points, which are arranged into three groups. Every chief probation officer post, except for those in the five largest metropolitan areas—Inner London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire—for whom special salary scales have been fixed, is assigned a five-point salary scale within one of the groups according to criteria agreed by the joint Negotiating Committee for the Probation Service. A pay settlement under phase 3 of the Government's pay guidelines has not yet been reached for chief and deputy chief officers. The Department does not have detailed information about salary levels for probation service staff other than probation
Whole-time Part-time Ancillaries 630 68 Administrative, clerical and secretarial 2,340 736 Day training centres 24 15 Student training units 22 2 Regional staff development HQ 7 2 Hostels, homes etc.: Wardens or managers 6 1 Deputy or assistant wardens or managers 10 1 Others 13 15 Sessional supervisors 16 610 Miscellaneous 47 554
§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list in theOfficial Reportthe additional duties, statutory and other wise, which have been placed upon pro- 578W to the Firearms Act 1968 to enable the United Kingdom to ratify and implement the convention, but the controls applicable in the United Kingdom will be substantially unaffected.