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Mr. Martyn Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many section 5 firearms certificates he has issued in each of the last five years. [67767]
Mr. Boateng
The authority of the Secretary of State to possess, purchase or acquire, manufacture, sell or transfer weapons and ammunition prohibited by section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended) is granted only to those applicants who can demonstrate a genuine need to have such weapons and ammunition. The total number of such authorities issued in England and Wales in each of the last five years is as follows:
| Year | Authorities issued |
| 1998 | 540 |
| 1997 | 320 |
| 1996 | 304 |
| 1995 | 261 |
| 1994 | 214 |