§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement defining an open certificate in the context of the administration of the Firearms Act 1968 and his recent working party's report dated April 1984.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his previous question on 27 June at column456.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding his recent discussions with the Association of Chief Police Officers concerning recent representations in favour of stricter controls on shotguns and on the conclusions reached following those discussions.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Department keeps in close and continuing touch with the association about firearms matters, including the desirability and practicality of stricter shotgun controls. We have not yet reached any conclusions on whether stricter shotgun controls should be introduced, save that my right hon. and learned Friend has decided to amend the firearms rules in due course to require the holder of a shotgun certificate to notify the chief officer of police of any change in his permanent address.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish any evidence submitted to the working party on the administration of the Firearms Act 1968 regarding the correlation between the strictness of controls on shotguns and the incidence of the criminal use of such weapons.
§ Mr. Giles ShawNo. Only a few incidental references were made to this in evidence submitted to the working party.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the formation of shooting sportspersons liaison groups in 823W each police authority area, to carry out the suggestions put forward by his recent working party in paragraph 25 of the report dated April 1984.
§ Mr. Giles ShawIt is for chief officers of police, taking into account paragraph 25 of the working party report, to decide on the extent and manner of consultations necessary before inserting territorial restrictions in firearm certificates.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement as to the definition of vermin used in the recent report dated April 1984 by his working party into the administration of the Firearms Act 1968; and whether it is intended to cover general pests such as crows, foxes, mink, marauding dogs and so on;
(2) if he will make a statement as to the definition of deerstalking used in the recent report dated April 1984 by his working party into the administration of the Firearms Act 1968; and whether it is intended to cover deer control, vermin, foxes and marauding dogs;
(3) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly on 5 June, Official Report, column 159, on the Firearms Act 1968, if he will make a statement giving his definition of general sporting purposes.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he monitors the administration by police forces of the Firearms Act 1968; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe Department is kept informed by chief officers of police, shooting organisations and firearms users amongst others and guidance is offered as and when appropriate. We also set up a Working Party in 1982 to achieve greater consistency of practice amongst police forces and to streamline procedures.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received any recent representations advocating further restrictions and controls on shotguns.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his previous question on 2 July at column95.