§ Lord Burtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have been informed by Lord Cullen of the reasons why there is no mention of the Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland's thematic report into the administration of firearms in Scotland which was submitted to the inquiry into the Dunblane shootings in the appendix to that inquiry's report, and if so, what were the reasons; and whether they will place a copy of the Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland's report in the Library of the House.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel)The content of the inquiry report and the question of which documents were accepted as formal submissions to the inquiry are matters for Lord Cullen. The inspectorate's draft report was, however, referred to in paragraph 2.13 of the inquiry report.
The draft report, which related to the administrative efficiency of the police operation of the existing licensing system, was never finalised because it was overtaken by the changes to the licensing system recommended by Lord Cullen and implemented in the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. I will however place a copy of the draft in the Library of the House.