§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what dates and for what muzzle energy and calibres of firearms his Department granted amended range safety certificates for ranges at(a) Dunmore shooting centre, Abingdon (b) Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company, (c) Berkshire Downs rifle and pistol club and (d) Lambourn Valley gun club;
(2) why the Berkshire Downs rifle and pistol club was issued with a firearms ranges safety certificate on 9 May 1986 by his Department.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 9 May 1988]: When invited to do so, the MOD will inspect the ranges of civilian shooting clubs which are affiliated to the NRA or NSRA. Range safety certificates when issued certify only that at the time of inspection a range conforms as regards the structural arrangments to the safety rules of MOD ranges of similar character.
Dunmore shooting centre, Abingdon was issued with a range safety certificate for the firing of weapons with a maximum muzzle energy of 1,313 ft/lbs. I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 20 April, at column 501, for the information concerning the calibre of weapons and date of certificate. I regret the Berkshire Downs Firearms and Ballistics Company was said to have received a range safety certificate in that reply; my Department has not in fact issued a range safety certificate for this organisation.
A range safety certificate was issued, however, to the Berkshire Downs rifle and pistol club on 9 May 1986. The club was affiliated to the National Rifle Association, which requested an MOD inspection. The certificate was returned when the club closed and was re-issued on 11 532W May 1987 when it reopened as the Lambourn Valley gun club. The certificate covered the firing of 0.455in centrefire pistol and rimfire rifle with a maximum muzzle energy of 475 ft/lbs.