Firearms (Hansard, 3 May 1988)

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East on 21 April,Official Report, column 525, he will indicate the sections of the Firearms Act 1968 to which he had regard in relation to his Department's definition of the term class of firearm.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
I was referring to the provisions of the Act generally, according to context.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley police as to whether the Thames Valley police(a) applied for and (b) received written confirmation as to the status of the late Michael Ryan's membership of the Wiltshire shooting centre in connection with his application dated 14 July 1987 for a variation to his firearms certificate;
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Thames Valley police standard inquiry letter form sent by the chief constable to firearms club secretaries when he inquires into the membership status of applicants who have completed and submitted to him a firearms form 1 for the grant renewal and variation of firearms certificates.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his earlier question on 31 March 1988 at column691.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to on what dates and by police officers of what ranks acting as crime prevention officers visits were made to the house of the late Michael Ryan between 2 April and 30 April 1987 for the purpose of inquiries regarding the applications he made in relation to his firearms certificate.
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§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
I refer the hon. Member to the reply to his earlier question on 31 March 1988 at column690. I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that the report of the crime prevention officer dated 27 April 1987 does not specify the dates of the visits made.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to when the chief constable's policy of a requirement for the successful completion of a minimum six-month probationary period before an applicant for a firearm certificate may be considered for the grant of such a certificate was introduced, and as to any changes there may have been in that policy subsequently.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that no such policy has been introduced.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action he has taken or intends to take in respect of the inaccuracy of the evidence given at the inquest held in connection with the Hungerford murders by Thomas Alfred Warlow, a forensic scientist attached to the Home Office forensic science laboratory at Huntingdon, on the composition and special qualities of the 7.62x 39 bullets fired by the late Michael Ryan; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
None; I am not aware of any matters that would justify disciplinary action.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to the names of which(a) clubs and (b) ranges the police constable wrote on the Thames Valley police form FIR 25(9/74) following the officer's visit to the house of the late Michael Ryan (i) on 30 November 1986 in response to his interview in connection with the receipt of the firearms form I application dated 23 November 1986 for the grant of a firearm certificate and (ii) on 28 March 1987 and 25 July 1987 in response to his interview in connection with the receipt of the firearms form 1 application dated 23 March and 14 July respectively; and, in each case, what additional answers the police constable wrote to the following numbered questions on form (5) have reasons why the applicant wishes to acquire or possess the firearm(s)/ammunition been verified?, and (6) with whom have they been verified? and (8) if for use with approved club, give details of range and current membership.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
No. It is not the practice to disclose the contents of reports obtained by the police for operational use.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to which(a) clubs and (b) ranges, the late Michael Ryan gave in completing section 14, reasons for requiring each of the firearms and ammunition specified", and section 15, where do you intend to use each of the firearms specified", when requesting authority to possess firearms on his firearms form 1 applications dated (a) 23 November 1986, (b) 23 March 1987 and (c) 14 July 1987 for the grant of, or variation to, his firearm certificate.
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§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
It is not the practice to disclose the contents of reports obtained by the police for operational use. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to his question of 31 March 1988 at column692.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force to list for which firearm permission was subsequently granted by the chief constable to the late Michael Ryan as a result of his firearms form 1 certificates on his applications for the variation of a firearms certificate on his applications dated(a) 23 March 1987 and (b) 14 July 1987;
(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police force as to what firearms the late Michael Ryan requested authority to possess on his firearms form 1 application for the variation of a firearms certificate from the chief constable on his application dated (a) 23 March and (b) 14 July 1987.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
I understand from the chief constable of Thames Valley that Michael Ryan requested and was granted authority to hold in respect of(a) a .22 pistol and a .32 pistol and (b) a 7.62 rifle and a .30 calibre carbine.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the Thames Valley police as to what is stated in his force's standing orders and amendments to standing orders for the period(a) 23 November 1986 to July 1987 and (b) July 1987 to the current date, in respect of the minimum probationary period required to establish the bonafides of applicants for the (i) grant, (ii) variation and (iii) renewal of firearms certificates; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
No. It is not the practice to disclose the contents of documents used for operational purposes by the police.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Thames Valley police as to whether Mrs. Vickers of the Police Complaints Authority has submitted requests for files and papers to the chief constable of Thames Valley police in the course of investigations into events(a) leading up to and (b) involving the shootings by the late Michael Ryan on 19 August 1987 and as to what response the chief constable has made to such requests, giving dates on which any such material was received by Mrs. Vickers: and if he will indicate the dates on which Mrs. Vickers has had to make any repeat requests for such material; and whether any such requests for such material have been refused or not yet complied with.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on 22 April at column593. I understand that the Police Complaints Authority is entirely satisfied with the co-operation which it is receiving from the Thames Valley police.