§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of Ernst and Young on the administration of firearms certification.
§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report by Ernst and Young on the administration of the firearms licensing system.
§ Mr. Charles WardleCopies of the Ernst and Young report on the cost of the administration of the firearms licensing system will be made available and a copy placed in the Library when an announcement is made about the current reviews of firearms fees.
Number of prosecutions under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 (as amended)1 and Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 by type of proceedings 1985–1992 England and Wales Type of Proceedings Offence/Year Apprehensions Summons by Police Summons other Total Protection of Animals Act 19111 1985 53 372 564 989 1986 71 316 638 1,025 1987 59 288 684 1,031 1988 91 278 655 1,024 1989 117 264 669 1,050 1990 88 300 779 1,167 1991 82 255 865 1,202 1992 83 276 795 1,154 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968—Sections 1, 2 & 6 (relating to welfare of livestock) 1985 — — 3 3 1986 — 1 10 11 1987 — 3 8 11 1988 — 8 12 20 1989 — 3 12 15 1990 1 2 10 13 1991 — 1 17 18 1992 — 2 14 16 1Cannot distinguish between offences involving livestock or other animals. Note:—The statistics of court proceedings are based on returns made by the police to the Home Office and although these include offences where there has been no police involvement, such as those prosecutions instigated by government departments, private organisations and individuals, the reporting of these types of offence is known to be incomplete. Where proceedings involve more than one offence, the table records the principal offence.
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§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to whether Mr. Joseph Cowlam had a firearms licence.
§ Mr. Charles WardleI understand that Mr. Cowlam did not hold a firearm certificate.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to see that police forces adopt the recommendations of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary concerning the administration of firearms certification.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe administration of firearms licensing is a matter for individual chief officers of police. I understand, however, that the chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers crime committee sub-group on the administration of firearms licensing has written to chief constables commending the recommendations of the report of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary to them. In addition, Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary will pay particular attention to this subject in its annual inspections of forces.