§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any progress has been made, since the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2 November 1999 (WA 82), towards meeting the statutory requirement, which came into effect on 1 October 1997, to establish a central register database of persons who have applied for a firearm or shotgun certificate or to whom a firearm or shotgun certificate has been granted; and, if not, why not. [HL738]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)Development of the national firearms database currently features in the Police Information Technology Organisation's (PITO) business plan for 2000–2001. Development could not have begun earlier because the resources available were required for projects of even higher priority. The next step is for PITO to carry out a detailed impact assessment. This is due to begin in February and should be completed in April. It is not possible to give a firm implementation date at this stage but it is hoped that the system will be in place by the summer of 2001