Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the most recent Home Office Type Approval system for enforcement technology, what steps if any they are taking to reduce (1) the length of time taken for the approval process to complete, and (2) the impact that this process has on (a) employment and investment in the industry, and (b) industry innovation and development of new products; and what steps if any they are taking to ensure that suppliers are able to communicate directly with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory scientists.

The Home Office Type Approval requirements and testing regime are amongst the most stringent in the world. This is due to the nature of the UK justice system, and to minimise the number of complex legal challenges.

The Home Office and DSTL recognise the need to improve the type approval process and update the handbook and have been working together to do this in a way that maintains confidence in type approved devices and considers the responsible use of public funds.