Handguns: Registration

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of time taken to process firearm certificate applications in Northern Ireland was in each of the last 18 months. (166210)

The Chief Constable of the Police Service for Northern Ireland has provided the following information in relation to the average processing time for firearm certificates:

*Table 1*
2006	Average Processing Time (Number of Days)
May	89
June	89
July	64
August	52
September	¹39
October	¹28
November	¹33
December	62
¹ These returns reflect a reduction in the number of applications received during this period.

*Table 2*
2007	Average Processing Time (Number of Days)
January	48
February	62
March	74
April	69
May	58
June	54
July	51
August	58
September	60
October	50

Volume 468: debated on Monday 26 November 2007