§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the implementation of the Firearms Act 1968 by police authorities is an administrative or operational responsibility.
§ Mr. HurdIt is both, but the responsibility rests with chief officers of police, not with police authorities.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he accepts the findings of the working party on the administration of the Firearms Act 1968 that it is unnecessary for zeroing, as defined in paragraph 21 of its report, for the control of vermin; and if he will state the evidence upon which that conclusion is based.
§ Mr. HurdExperience has shown that the overwhelming majority of people with firearm certificates for vermin control use rifles with fixed sights. However, chief officers of police will be advised in the revised memorandum of guidance to consider making provision for zeroing in appropriate cases.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will consider meeting those responsible bodies and interested parties not at present represented by the British Shooting Sports Council prior to revising the memorandum of guidance to the police on the administration of the Firearms Act 1968;
(2) if he is prepared to accept submissions from the responsible bodies and interested parties not affiliated to the British Shooting Sports Council for consideration in 2W the preparation of the revised memorandum of guidance to the police on the administration of the Firearms Act 1968.
§ Mr. HurdWork on preparation of a draft revision of the memorandum is already well advanced. It would be impracticable to meet the many organisations having an interest in this subject, but we would of course consider any written submissions. Shooting interests have generally preferred to co-ordinate and represent their views through the British Shooting Sports Council.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why his working party on the administration of the Firearms Act 1968 did not include representatives of relevant bodies outside the British Shooting Sports Council or professionally qualified persons nominated by such bodies.
§ Mr. HurdBecause the operation of the controls under the Firearms Act is the responsibility of chief officers of police. But the working party invited interested bodies to submit written evidence which was very carefully considered.