§ Mr. Parrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for the issue of licences to sell firearms; and what checks are made on applicants before the issue of such licences.
§ Mr. BrittanSection 34 of the Firearms Act 1968 requires a chief officer of police to satisfy himself that an applicant for registration as a firearms dealer can be permitted to carry on that business without danger to the public safety or to the peace. Similar criteria apply to each place of business from which an applicant wishes to trade.