§ Mr. A. Cecil Walkerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of acquiring and renewing a firearms certificate on the mainland of Great Britain; and how that compares with the figure for Northern Ireland.
January 1979 January 1980 January 1981 January 1982 January 1983 Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Grade 1 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — Grade 2 8 — 8 — 8 — 8 — 7 — Grade 3 25 2 24 2 26 2 27 2 24 2 Grade 4 16 — 16 — 12 — 14 — 12 1 Grade 5 145½ 8 146½ 10 144½ 13 143 14 138 15 Grade 6 153 16 158 16 166 13 165 14 166 15 Grade 7 387 37 404 37 401 33 581½ 63½ 578½ 69½ Senior Executive Office 821 67 850½ 71 870½ 75 863 69½ 899½ 63½ Higher Executive Officer 1,658½ 180 1,657 187 1,692 184½ 1,713 208½ 1,810 255 Executive Officer 6,920 1,046½ 7,042½ 1,108½ 7,231½ 1,149 7,011½ 1,089 7,294½ 1,143½ Clerical Officer (and equivalents) 12,866 2,680½ 12,984 2,751½ 13,817½ 2,908½ 13,669 2,842 13,848½ 2,950 Clerical Assistant (and equivalents) 376½ 1,899½ 358½ 1,888 405½ 2,291 393½ 2,148½ 454½ 2,184½ Obsolete Grades 55 368½ 25 364 18 17½ 2 3 2 —
784W
January 1984 January 1985 January 1986 January 1987 Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Grade 1 1 — 1 — 1 — 1 — Grade 2 6 — 7 — 7 — 7 — Grade 3 25 2 25 2 24 2 29 2
§ Mr. Douglas HoggIn Great Britain both the grant and renewal of a firearms certificate costs £33. In Northern Ireland the grant of a firearms certificate costs £33 and £21 on renewal.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is in a position to introduce proposals for new firearms legislation.
§ Mr. HurdThe broad package of proposals which I announced at Torquay and other related proposals designed to strengthen existing controls on firearms are being carefully and throughly examined, in consultation with interested parties. I have arranged for a copy of that statement to be placed in the Library. The tragedy a t Hungerford and other recent disturbing incidents involving those in the lawful possession of a firearm or shotgun certificate add to the case for a substantial shift in the balance of firearms law to meet the needs of public safety. This cannot be done unreasonably at the expense of the legitimate shooting interest. A proper balance must he struck between the two. I hope to announce comprehensive proposals designed to meet this end next month with a view to introducing separate new firearms legislation early this Session.