§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications for the renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates were(a) received and (b) processed by West Mercia Constabulary in (i) 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2000, (ii) 1 July 2000 to 31 December 2000 and (iii) 1 January to 31 March; [159186]
(2) how many firearm and shotgun certificates were (a) granted, (b) renewed and (c) varied by West Mercia Constabulary between 1 October 2000 and 31 March; [159184]
(3) how many firearm and shotgun certificates fell due for renewal in each month in the West Mercia Constabulary area in the last 12 months; [159187]
(4) how many temporary firearm and shotgun permits were issued by West Mercia Constabulary during the previous six month period to holders of firearm and shotgun certificates awaiting renewals and whose certificates had expired. [159185]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe information available from West Mercia Constabulary on the points raised is set out. 617W Between 1 October 2000 and 31 March 2001 West Mercia Constabulary issued the following:
- Firearm Grants: 89
- Firearm Renewals: 302
- Firearm variations: 102
- Shotgun Grants: 445
- Shotgun Renewals: 3,182.
West Mercia Constabulary also issued 369 replacement certificates during the same period of time.
During the past six months, West Mercia Constabulary have issued 49 Firearm Temporary Permits and 59 Shotgun Temporary Permits.
Between the following dates, West Mercia Constabulary received and processed firearm and shotgun certificate applications for renewal as follows:
Firearms Applications Shotguns Applications 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2000: Renewal (actual) 475 Renewal 4,521 Processed 198 Processed 2,138 1 July 2000 to 31 December 2000: Renewal (estimated) 485 Renewal 3,700 Processed 250 Processed 2,792 1 January 2001 to 31 March 2001: Renewal 1— Renewal 1— Processed 160 Processed 1,694 1Not Known These figures do not include cancellations, transfers out to other forces or applications for replacement certificates, which totalled 2,704.
Information on the number of certificates falling due for renewal in each individual month is not collected centrally and could be done so only at disproportionate cost. It is estimated, based on the total number of certificates registered in the force area, that an average of 972 renewal applications would fall due each month.