HC Deb 25 January 1990 vol 165 cc824-5W
Mr. Beggs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the reasons for the increase in cost of a new firearms certificate to the present level in January 1990.

Mr. Cope

Fees for firearms certificates are set so as to recover the costs of administering the licensing system, the largest single element of which is police staff costs. The fee

At 31 December (a) shotguns (b) .22 rifles (c) Full bore (d) Other firearms
1989 156 37 42 8
1988 70 29 13 6
1987 83 15 21 4
1986 108 4 7 3
1985 153 7 26 5

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many persons in Northern Ireland hold certificates as firearms dealers.

Mr. Cope

[holding answer 9 January 1990]: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that there are 155 registered firearms dealers in Northern Ireland.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons in Northern Ireland, not being firearms dealers, have firearms certificates on which are listed more than 10 firearms which are a mixture of muzzle loading and cartridge firing weapons; whether such persons are treated as collectors of firearms; and what were the numbers of such persons five and 10 years ago or as much of such information as is available to him.

Mr. Cope

[holding answer 9 January 1990]: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that the information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.