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.

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.