§ 38. Mr. Colin ShepherdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he plans to review the procedures for police scrutiny of applicants for firearm certificates to determine their suitability.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 contains powers to impose further requirements relating to applications for the grant or renewal of a firearm certificate. In addition to the stringent criteria set out in section 27 of the Firearms Act 1968, such applications will, later this year, need to be accompanied by photographs of the applicant and be countersigned by a person of standing in the community who has known the applicant personally for at least two years. The countersignatory will be required to verify the personal details of the applicant and to declare that he knows of no reason why the applicant should not be permitted to possess a firearm.