§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in England and Wales now hold shotgun certificates; and how this compares with the position (a) five years and (b) 10 years previously.
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§ Mr. MayhewInformation of this kind was collected centrally on an irregular basis only before 1979 and the figures for 1982 are not yet available. The available information which is nearest to that requested is as follows:
Number of Shotgun Certificates on Issue in England and Wales as at 31st December Year Number 1981 785,225 1974 766,952 1971 715,453
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the cost of a shotgun certificate was fixed at its present level of £12; and what increase would be required to compensate for the fall in the value of money in the intervening years.
§ Mr. MayhewThe present fee levels came into effect of 1 July 1980. An increase of 22.73 per cent. would be required to compensate for the change in the value of money since then, as measured by the retail prices index. This would raise the fee for the issue of a shotgun certificate to £14.73.