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Firearms
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many days it takes to process the grant and renewal of a shotgun and firearm certificate in each police constabulary area. [108823]
Mr. Charles Clarke: This information is not collected centrally.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what monitoring and evaluation of the firearms licensing regime has been carried out in respect of the level set for firearm fees. [108822]
Mr. Charles Clarke: As with other aspects of police administration, firearms licensing is subject to monitoring by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) as part of their inspection process.
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representatives of shooting user groups have been invited to participate in Home Office discussions on firearms fees. [108821]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Firearms Consultative Committee (FCC), the independent statutory authority that advises the Government on firearms matters, considered initial proposals for reviewing firearms
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licensing fees last year. The Home Office has since received detailed information from the Association of Chief Police Officers as to the basis on which the fees might be set. Ultimately, it is for the Home Secretary to lay an Order before Parliament setting out any changes, but before doing so we shall wish to consult the British Shooting Sports Council for their views.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to improve the efficiency of police firearms licensing departments in respect of the criticisms made in Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary report in 1993. [108820]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
In the years immediately following the publication of their 1993 Report on Firearms Licensing, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) paid particular attention to firearms licensing departments during their inspection of individual forces, having regard to the shortcomings identified in the report. In general, HMIC was satisfied that most forces had taken those steps identified by the Inspectorate to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in this area.
Since the publication of the 1993 Inspection Report, there has been considerable change in the field of firearms licensing following the tragic events at Dunblane and the subsequent legislation. There have also been wider changes, for example in the role and effectiveness of computer systems. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary is, therefore, drawing up new inspection protocols for firearms licensing departments.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1999, Official Report, column 124W, what are the respective responsibilities of his Department and the Scottish Executive in relation to British summer time in Scotland. [108818]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The Scotland Act 1998 reserves powers relating to summer time to Westminster and responsibility, therefore, remains with the Home Office.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consult road safety groups and others on abandoning British summer time in England and Wales. [108819]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
We have no plans to promote changes to the present summer time arrangements, but we will continue to listen to all sides of the argument.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much he has spent on counsel's opinion in respect of securing statements of compatibility of public bills with the requirements of the Human Rights Act 1998. [108757]
Mr. Straw:
Statements under section 19 express the Minister's view as to whether the provisions of a Bill are compatible with the Convention. Each Department is responsible for seeking its own advice before making a
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section 19 statement. No money has been spent by the Home Office on counsel's fees for the immediate purpose of making such statements. But in forming a view as to a Bill's compatibility, the Minister will take into account all the legal advice available to the Department, including any advice from outside Counsel, where appropriate. Such advice may be obtained in relation to a specific issue or have been given, for example, in the context of relevant litigation.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the paper setting out the basis for statements of compatibility of Public Bills with the Human Rights Act 1998. [108756]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Copies of the revised guidance to Departments have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the document relating to the Lawrence Inquiry, entitled, "Summary of Progress on Key Action Points". [108718]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
Yes; but I shall shortly be publishing a much fuller account of the progress made in implementing the action plan published in March 1999 in response to the report of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) of 2 February 2000, Official Report, column 599W, on his proposals to restrict the right to elect trial by jury, (a) if it is his intention to allow (i) either the prosecution or defence, or both, to petition the Crown court for an oral hearing of an appeal against the determination of mode of trial by magistrates, where an oral hearing is not requested by the judge and (ii) only circuit judges to hear appeals in the Crown court against the determination of mode of trial by magistrates, and (b) if the prosecution and defence will be able to adduce additional evidence, over and above that presented to the magistrates, during the course of an appeal to the Crown court against the determination of mode of trial by magistrates, and if they will be able to call witnesses and expert witnesses to give oral testimony. [109208]
Mr. Charles Clarke
[holding answer 8 February 2000]: The appeal would be a re-hearing by a circuit judge of the magistrates decision. It would be open to either of the parties to seek an oral hearing in the notice of appeal, and it would be for the discretion of the judge whether to allow an oral hearing to take place. It would also be for his discretion whether to allow the parties to adduce further evidence (including, in the unlikely event that it would be necessary, evidence from expert or other witnesses) in support of their representations.
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Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2000, Official Report, column 599W, what parts of criminal proceedings in the Crown Court may at present be heard in chambers by a single judge; what estimate he has made of the number of Crown Court sitting days that would be taken up by the hearing of appeals against the determination of mode of trial by magistrates, what items are included in the cost of (i) a written and (ii) an oral appeals; and on what basis he reached his estimate of the number of defendants who would appeal against magistrates' decisions on mode of trial. [109209]
Mr. Charles Clarke
[holding answer 8 February 2000]: Business which may be heard in chambers by a single judge (pursuant to Crown Court Rule 27) includes applications for bail and for the extension of time-limits, and appeals against the decision of magistrates on those issues. In estimating the cost of appeals against mode of trial, the generous assumptions have been made that in 25 per cent. of cases the defendant might appeal, and that 17.5 per cent. of cases will require an oral hearing. In total, less than 650 judicial hours would be spent on these appeals per year. The costs have been based on court time, prosecution costs and legal aid standard fee rates. The reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe), on 2 February 2000, Official Report, column 599W, contained a typographical error: it is estimated the number of defendants who would appeal is 3,000, and not 3,900 as stated.
Mr. Fabian Hamilton:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage a further strengthening of co-operation with Hungary to combat organised crime. [109668]
Mr. Straw:
I have today signed with the Minister of the Interior of Hungary, Dr. Sandor Pinter, a Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organised Crime, International Terrorism and Illegal Immigration. The agreement provides a framework within which law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities in our two countries can develop their close working relations in preventing, detecting and investigating all forms of serious and organised national and international crime. It is an important step forward in combating the common threat from criminal activity both within and beyond Europe.
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