HC Deb 26 January 1988 vol 126 cc131-2W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to reduce the costs incurred by the Metropolitan police in the administration of the issuing of firearms and shotgun certificates, down to a level comparable with other police forces.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

No sample survey of costs incurred by police forces in issuing firearm and shotgun certificates has been undertaken since 1981. A comparison of costs on the basis of the most recent Metropolitan police assessment of costs for the period 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1986 is not therefore possible. This assessment was accepted for consideration by the working party on the review of fees which we intend should resume its work in the light of the proposed new firearms legislation.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken by police officers to locate, document or seize the 45 calibre Thompson and 9 mm Bergann pistol held by the late Michael Ryan without a firearms certificate.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand from the chief constable that extensive investigations carried out by the Thames Valley police since the Hungerford shootings into the weapons held by Michael Ryan have not disclosed any substantive evidence that Ryan was ever in possession of the firearms indicated.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of firearms in circulation in each category have been reported as stolen in each of the past 10 years or for any lesser period for which records are readily available.

Mr. John Patten

The information requested is not available. The number of burglaries and thefts recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been stolen, by principal weapons, is published in table 3.12 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1986" (Cm. 233). The number of firearms and shotgun certificates on issue at the end of each year is published in tables 1 and 3 of Home Office statistical bulletin issue 2/88. Copies of both publications are in the Library. Information is not collected centrally at present on the number of firearms stolen in each offence nor of the numbers of weapons held on certificates. The information collected on these subjects is under review.