§ Mr. Budgenasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new firearms licences for sporting guns were issued in Northern Ireland in 1984, 1985 and to date in 1986; and how many of these were issued to members of gun clubs.
§ Mr. ScottIn Northern Ireland, a person may hold several firearms for different purposes by the authority of one firearm certificate. The information requested is therefore being given as the number of firearms head in Northern Ireland for sporting purposes and not the number of certificates issued. At 31 December 1984, 96,404 firearms were held in Northern Ireland for sporting purposes by authority of firearm certificates granted or renewed by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. At 31 December 1985 the number was 98,359 and at 30 November 1986 the number was 99,928.
Information regarding the numbers of firearm certificates and the number of firearms held by virtue of those certificates on issue to members of firearms clubs authorised under the provisions of article 54 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.