§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the Metropolitan police have carried out any further costing exercises on firearms and shotgun certificate fees since the last published figures for a similar exercise in 1981;
(2) if he will list the respective costs or estimated costs to the Metropolitan police for the grant and renewal of both firearms and shotgun certificates under the most recent costing exercise on certificate fees.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe most recent Metropolitan police assessment of costs incurred in granting or renewing firearm and shotgun certificates is for the period 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1986. These and estimated costs for 1986–87 and 1987–88, as calculated in November 1986, are as follows:
1985–86 £ 1986–87 £ 1987–88 £ Firearm certificate Issue 65.18 69.92 74.71 Renewal with increased number of firearms 47.77 51.23 54.73 Renewal without increased number of firearms 39.10 41.92 44.76 Shotgun certificate Issue 30.65 32.97 35.38 Renewal 5.59 5.96 6.33