To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Firearms: Licensing
Tuesday 17th January 2017

Asked by: Ian Liddell-Grainger (Conservative - Bridgwater and West Somerset)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for the Cotswolds of 1 December 2017 to Question 54884, for what reasons the Government does not collect or publish data on firearm and shotgun certificate applications.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

The Home Office collects and publishes data on firearm and shotgun certificates issued in England and Wales, including those granted and refused for new and renewal applications. The Government currently has no plans to collect and publish data on police performance in processing firearm and shotgun certificate applications. Under the Firearms Act 1968 firearm and shotgun certificate administration is a matter for the chief officer of police for the area in which the applicant lives.

In considering what information is collected and published by the Home Office, emphasis is given to whether data are justified, of strategic importance and able to be collected with minimal burden.


Written Question
Firearms: Licensing
Monday 9th January 2017

Asked by: Ian Liddell-Grainger (Conservative - Bridgwater and West Somerset)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding was allocated to the firearms licensing department of each police authority area in England and Wales in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

The Home Office does not hold data centrally on how police funding is allocated to the firearms licensing department of forces in England and Wales, nor the number of officers and staff who are employed in firearms licensing departments. Data are published on the primary function of officers and staff, but these do not allow firearms licensing roles to be separately identified.

The deployment of available resources is an operational decision for Chief Officers, working with their Police and Crime Commissioner.


Written Question
Firearms: Licensing
Monday 9th January 2017

Asked by: Ian Liddell-Grainger (Conservative - Bridgwater and West Somerset)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police (a) officers and (b) civilian staff were employed in firearms licensing departments in each police authority area in England and Wales in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Answered by Brandon Lewis

The Home Office does not hold data centrally on how police funding is allocated to the firearms licensing department of forces in England and Wales, nor the number of officers and staff who are employed in firearms licensing departments. Data are published on the primary function of officers and staff, but these do not allow firearms licensing roles to be separately identified.

The deployment of available resources is an operational decision for Chief Officers, working with their Police and Crime Commissioner.