HC Deb 29 February 1988 vol 128 cc392-3W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present cost of(a) the renewal of and (b) application for a firearms certificate in Northern Ireland; and what percentage of the total costs involved these fees cover.

Mr. Stanley

[holding answer 26 February 1988]: The fee paid upon application for a firearms certificate is £33 and for the renewal of a firearms certificate £21. The fees are set at a level calculated to recover the full costs of operating the system of certification.

31 December 1987 31 December 1982 31 December 1977
Shotguns 82,554 77,392 69,525
.22 Rifles 12,219 12,410 12,491
Other rifles 1,195 1,281 1,423
Handguns 10,566 10,288 10,322
Other firearms 18,659 16,431 12,889

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the shotguns held on firearms certificates in Northern Ireland are semiautomatic.

Mr. Stanley

[holding answer 26 February 1988]: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.