HC Deb 04 April 1989 vol 150 cc177-9W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in theOfficial Report to show for each year from 1976 to 1988, the number of (a) shotguns, (b) rifles, (c) handguns, (d) air and gas-powered weapons held on firearms certificates in Northern Ireland or as much of such information as is available to him.

Mr. Ian Stewart

[holding answer 23 March 1989]: The information requested is as follows:

Year (a) Shotguns (b) Rifles (c) Handguns (d) Air Weapons
1976 67,148 13,877 10,189 11,830
1977 69,525 13,914 10,322 12,112
1978 71,119 13,834 9,978 12,491
1979 72,843 13,839 9,946 13,362
1980 74,836 13,550 10,257 14,450
1981 76,087 13,765 10,184 15,103

(a) Police officers and ranks
Superintendent Chief Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable
1976
1977
1978 1 1 1 1 1
1979 1 1 1 1 1
1980 1 1 1 1 1
1981 1 1 1 1 1
1982 1 1 1 1 1
1983 1 1 1 1 1
1984 1 1 1 1 1
1985 1 1 1 1 1
1986 1 1 1 1 1
1987 1 1 1 1 1
1988 1 1 1 1 1

Note: Figures are not available for 1976 and 1977.

Pay
Year1 Salaries Overtime and Allowances Superannuation and ERNI Total Cost of Remuneration
(£'000s) (£'000s) (£'000s) (£'000s)
1976–77 64.3 19.8 21.5 105.6
1977–78 72.3 15.3 24.6 112.2
1978–79 98.6 16.1 31.7 146.4
1979–80 102.8 14.5 32.9 150.2
1980–81 132.2 17.2 41.9 191.3
1981–82 143.2 17.2 45.2 205.6
1982–83 159.8 26.4 51.2 237.4
1983–84 181.0 28.2 59.5 268.7
1984–85 183.1 34.1 61.3 278.5
1985–86 243.8 30.6 75.9 350.3
1986–87 272.1 24.3 83.4 379.8
1987–88 315.0 26.9 90.7 432.6
1 Pay calculated on basis of financial year, 1 April to 31 March.

Year (i) Firearm Certificates Granted (ii) Firearm Certificates Renewed (iii) Firearm Certificates Varied
1976 5,116 15,361 9,283
1977 5,484 13,065 9,539
1978 4,318 28,710 6,465
1979 4,389 19,121 10,278
1980 4,362 14,201 8,934
1981 3,639 29,704 9,140
1982 4,297 21,685 9,246

Year (a) Shotguns (b) Rifles (c) Handguns (d) Air Weapons
1982 77,392 13,691 10,288 15,635
1983 78,587 13,691 10,246 16,071
1984 79,845 13,654 10,188 16,659
1985 81,247 13,642 10,238 17,240
1986 82,601 13,596 10,427 17,701
1987 82,554 13,414 10,566 17,858
1988 82,913 13,321 10,752 18,114

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table in theOfficial Report to show how many (a) police officers by rank and (b) civilian staff by grade have been engaged at police headquarters in processing firearms certificates for each year since 1976 to the latest available date; what has been the total costs of remunerating such staff in each year; in each year how many firearms certificates were (i) issued, (ii) renewed, and (iii) varied; how many applications were refused for (a) issues of a new certificate, (b) renewals and (c) variation; and how many certificates were withdrawn.

Mr. Ian Stewart

[holding answer 23 March 1989: The information requested is as follows:

Year (i) Firearm Certificates Granted (ii) Firearm Certificates Renewed (iii) Firearm Certificates Varied
1983 3,714 17,016 7,748
1984 4,011 30,066 8,574
1985 4,222 22,463 7,082
1986 3,895 17,933 7,197
1987 3,743 29,296 8,903
1988 3,672 22,164 8,800

Year (a) Refused to grant new firearm certificate (b) Refused to renew firearm certificate (c) Refused to vary firearm certificate Firearm certificate revoked
1976 281 49 510 192
1977 293 58 504 23
1978 229 48 428 100
1979 267 92 331 101
1980 294 79 387 123
1981 360 79 390 103
1982 377 78 439 124
1983 336 79 389 157
1984 313 88 465 154
1985 326 61 374 178
1986 308 43 320 147
1987 308 53 420 146
1988 262 62 471 148

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many rifles held on firearms certificates in Northern Ireland are of .22 calibre; and how many are of larger calibre; and how many in each category are held under the condition, possession only.

Mr. Ian Stewart

[holding answer 23 March 1989]: The information requested is as follows:

Total Numbers Possession only
Rifles of .22 calibre 12,146 974
Rifles of larger calibre 1,175 786

Note: Figures refer to 31 December 1988.