§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers, ranks and salaries of the Royal Ulster Constabulary officers employed in the Royal Ulster Constabulary firearms section; and what were the numbers, ranks and salaries five years and 10 years ago.
§ Mr. Cope[holding answer 9 January 1990]: The information on staffing levels and average salaries as at 31 December 1989 and five years and 10 years ago is as follows:
Permanent headquarters staff Superintendent Chief Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable 1989 1 1 1 1 1 1984 1 1 1 1 1 1979 1 1 1 1 1
Pay1 Superintendent Chief Inspector Inspector Sergeant Constable 1989 27,410 20,600 18,570 16,320 13,340 1984 19,480 14,400 12,940 11,350 8,920 1979 9,060 6,610 5,880 5,180 4,150 1 Average pay for the grade or rank excluding allowance and overtime.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) applications, (b) renewals and (c) variations of firearms certificates were granted in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years; and how many in each category and year were refused.
§ Mr. Cope[holding answer 9 January 1990]: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is as follows: 658W
Firearm certificate granted Firearm certificate renewed Firearm certificate varied Year (a) (b) (c) 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 1989 3,185 17,910 7,776
Firearm certificate granted Firearm certificate renewed Firearm certificate varied Year (a) (b) (c) 1984 313 88 465 1985 326 61 374 1986 308 43 320 1987 308 53 420 1988 262 62 471 1989 299 84 565
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many firearms certificates are held in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Cope[holding answer 9 January 1990]: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that there were 88,410 on 1 January 1990.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) handguns, (b) shotguns, (c) .22 rifles, (d) larger than .22 calibre rifles and (e) other firearms are currently held on firearms certificates in Northern Ireland; and what were the figures five years and 10 years ago.
§ Mr. Cope[holding answer 9 January 1990]: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is as follows:
At 31 December 1989 1984 1979 (a) Handguns 10,978 10,188 9,946 (b) Shotguns 83,593 79,845 72,843 (c) .22 rifles 12,161 12,395 12,469 (d) Full bore rifles 1,172 1,259 1,370 (e) Other firearms 19,139 17,459 14,154