Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 21 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 October 2002. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Wednesday, 30 October 2002 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost of delays in the National Firearms Certificate Holders Register database has been; and if he will make a statement. - Inc figure.

Answer: Mr. Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of delays in the national firearms certificate holders register database has been; and if he will make a statement. [76791] Mr. Bob Ainsworth:: The national firearms certificate holders register is being developed on the police national computer (PNC) by the police information technology organisation (PITO) using its own internal resources. An integral part of the project is to provide a link between the local systems used by forces and the national database on the PNC. The procurement exercise to engage contract support to develop and implement the necessary interfaces failed to provide a satisfactory solution. PITO estimate that the manpower costs associated with this part of the project totalled some £21,000. I understand that PITO have recently issued a non-binding expression of interest for a re- tender to provide a single firearms licensing management system and to build the interface to the PNC. It is unlikely that the register will now be operational before summer 2004 and work is already being developed to achieve that aim.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 76791; 391 c847W;391 c843W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Databases Costs Administrative delays Licensing Firearms Registration
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk