§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constables of police as to whether they require from the applicant for a shotgun certificate evidence by way of written permission to shoot over farmland before granting the certificate.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for the grant or renewal of a shotgun certificate is a matter for chief officers of police who must have regard to the statutory requirements of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1988.
175WMy right hon. and learned Friend has issued guidance to chief officers of police in the publication entitled "Firearms Law: Guidance to the Police", a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those provisions of the Firearms Acts that refer to procedures governing applicants for shotgun licences.
§ Mr. Peter LloydSection 26 of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended by sections 9 and 10 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, provides for applications for the grant and renewal of a shotgun certificate to be made in the prescribed form. Sections 26 and 53 of the 1968 Act empower the Secretary of State to make rules prescribing the form of application and certificates. These are set out in the Firearms Rules 1989, a copy of which is in the Library.