§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the recommendations of the firearms consultative committee that have been implemented nationally, from each of its annual reports.
§ Mr. Charles WardleImplementation of a considerable number of the Firearms Consultative Committee's (FCC) recommendations will require primary legislation to amend the Firearms Acts. I am unable to say when parliamentary time might be available for legislation on firearms matters. Other recommendations which have already been implemented by means of subordinate legislation or through administrative action are listed. Work is in hand towards the implementation of a number of other recommendations of the committee.
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
Approved Rifle and Pistol Clubs
The changes to the revised criteria for club approval which the committee recommended were incorporated in the final list of revised approval criteria and have been in place since January 1990.Countersignatures
654WI understand from the committee's recommendations that no class of person should be automatically excluded from being accepted as a countersignatory to a firearm or shot gun certificate application; that flexibility should be applied in interpretation of the definition of a countersignatory; and that any inconsistency should be reported to chief officers of police have been promulgated to forces by the Association of Chief Police Officers.Visitor's Permit Scheme
I understand that police forces are following the committee's recommendations that British visitor's permits should in general be issued for the full twelve months allowed in law and that applications should be supplied in English.SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
European Commission Proposal for a Council Directive on the Acquisition and Possession of Weapons
The regulations which transposed the directive's provisions into our domestic legislation (Firearms Acts (Amendment) Regulations 1992—SI 1992 No. 2823) retained the British visitor's permit scheme and also made the issue of European firearms passes a police responsibility.Control of Explosives Regulations
A number of the committee's recommendations were given effect in the final version of the regulations (SI 1991 No. 1531) which it had seen in draft. To minimise bureaucracy the regulations provided for explosives certificates to be issued coterminously with an existing firearm or shot gun certificate. Limits on the quantitites of explosives which can be kept for private use were also increased.THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
Definition of antique weapons and Collecting of firearms
Revised guidance to police on which weapons should be considered as antiques was issued in November 1992.Provision was made in the Firearms Acts (Amendment) Regulations 1992 allowing the continued private possession by collectors of certain items which are prohibited from general public possession by virtue of the EC Weapons Directive.Carrier of Prohibited Weapons
The Home Office issued an addendum to its guidance to carriers of prohibited weapons covering the carriage of weapons to and from the gun barrel proof houses.Leaflet on the Security of Firearms and Shot Guns
The Home Office published a leaflet on firearm and shot gun security in October 1992.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise police forces to stop the practice of stamping envelopes containing correspondence to firearms and shotgun holders information to the effect that if the envelope is found it should be returned to the firearms unit of the force concerned.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe administration of the firearms licensing system is the responsibility of individual chief officers of police. We have no plans to issue guidance to the police on this subject but the matter has been brought to the attention of the Association of Chief Police Officers for any action which it considers necessary.