Shotguns (Hansard, 18 June 1991)

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing for each constabulary in England and Wales(a) the number of shotgun certificates held, (b) the number granted, (c) the number renewed, (d) the number of shotguns surrendered or handed over to the police, (e) the number of certificates cancelled by the police and (f) the number of certificates not renewed and of the guns covered by them handed over to the police in each of the last four years; and what became of any shotguns handed in.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
The available information, relating to England and Wales, is published annually in Home Office statistical bulletins as follows: "Statistics on the Operation of the Firearms Act 1968", issue 2/88, issue 33/88, and issue 18/89, for the years 1986 to 1988 and "Statistics on the operations of the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1988", issue 26/90, for 1989. Home office statistical bulletins are held in the Library.
These bulletins contain the information by police force area on the number of shotgun certificates on issue at 31 December each year, the number of new certificates granted, the number renewed and the number revoked during these years. For revocations in 1986, some limited information is given for England and Wales as a whole in paragraph 6 of bulletin issue 2/88.
Statistics on the number of certificates not renewed and on the number of disposal of shotguns surrendered or handed over to the police are not available.
In 1989, the Home Office published guidance to the police urging them not to destroy a shotgun of an unusual type if it was of interest to a museum or the government's forensic science laboratories.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under which provisions of the Firearms Acts or other provisions, chief constables are empowered to require persons seeking the grant or renewal of a shotgun certificate to give details of the shoots the applicant attended during the preceding 12 months, and as to whether the shoots were organised or otherwise.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Under section 28 of the Firearms Act 1968, as amended by section 3 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, a chief officer of police may refuse to grant or renew a shotgun certificate if he is satisfied that the applicant does not have a good reason for possessing,100W purchasing or acquiring a shotgun. The Act does not specify the inquiries that a chief officer may make when considering the good reason requirement, but where a chief officer has genuine doubts about an applicant's reasons for possessing a shotgun it is for him to make such inquiries as he reasonably considers necessary.

§ Mr. William Ross
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list such information he has as to which police forces in England and Wales require applicants for the grant or renewal of a shotgun certificate to give details of(a) the shoots the applicant attended during the preceding 12 months and (b) the lands over which they have shot during the preceding 12 months.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Under the Firearms Acts 1968 to 1988 the administration of the firearms licensing system is a matter entirely for local chief officers of police. To help to ensure consistency of practice where appropriate the Home Office published "Firearms Law: Guidance to the Police" in 1989. A copy was placed in the Library. The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.