§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many shotguns and semiautomatic shotguns that would become section 1 firearms from 1 February have been proofed by either the London or Birmingham proof houses, following their conversion under the terms of the Firearms Act 1988, to remain as shotguns.
§ Mr. Peter LloydI understand from the masters of the proof houses that approximately 33,000 adapted smooth-bore guns have been certified by the proof houses so as to enable the guns to be retained on a shotgun certificate; 21,000 of these were dealt with in Birmingham and the remainder in London.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table in the Official Report to show how many applications have been made to each chief constable of police for shotguns which have now under the terms of the Firearms Act 1988 become section 1 firearms to be held on firearms certificates; and how many such applications have been(a) granted, (b) refused and (c) withdrawn by the applicant.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that all chief officers of police have notified all shotgun certificate holders individually prior to 1 February 1990 of the changes in the law under the Firearms Act 1988 with regard to semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns that they have converted and reproofed or the owner makes an application for the shotgun to be held on a firearms certificate.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIn January Home Office officials invited the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to remind certificate holders about the end of 31 January 1990 of the seven- month transitional period in which to 541W comply with the new controls. I understand that ACPO has advised chief officers accordingly. But it is for certificate holders to ensure their compliance with the law.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) further to his answer of 31 January to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East, if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gwent as to the date on which the shotgun, the property of Mr. G. W. Phillips, was taken by PC 853 Fairie; on what date it was entered by PC Fairie into police station records; and on what date it was transferred to Newport police headquarters and by whom;
(2) further to his reply to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East, on 31 January, if he will call for and place in the Library a report from the chief constable of Gwent covering the report compiled by PC 853 Fairie into the shotgun renewal application of Mr. G. W. Phillips;
(3) if, further to his answer of 31 January to the hon. Member for Londonderry, East, he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gwent as to which police officer laid evidence before the office manager, firearms administration, that the shotgun, the property of Mr. G. W. Phillips, was given into the possession of Mr. P. Stokes;
(4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gwent as to who was requested by Mr. G. W. Phillips to hand the shotgun belonging to Mr. Phillips to Mr. P. Stokes;
(5) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Gwent as to which police officers, by rank, countersigned the report of PC 853 Fairie into the renewal application by Mr. G. W. Phillips for his shotgun certificate; and on which dates in each case.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNo. The local administration of the firearms licensing system is a matter for the chief officer of police concerned.