§ 38. Sir Hector Monroasked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many prosecutions for firearms offences have been instituted in the last convenient year; and how many alleged offenders held firearms certificates.
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandFive hundred and fifty four prosecutions in respect of offences involving 934 firearms took place in 1984. The provisional figure for 1985 is 555. Statistics relating to the number of those prosecuted who held firearms certificates are not held centrally.
§ Sir Hector MonroSince the security of firearms is of first importance, does not the fact that my hon. and learned Friend does not keep statistics for those who hold firearms certificates show that additional pressure for the imposition of greater restrictions on those who hold firearms certificates may be misplaced?
§ The Solicitor-General for ScotlandI understand why my hon. Friend is concerned about this, and I may take the opportunity to discuss it with him further. All I can say at the moment is that I do not know the figures for offences by those who hold firearms certificates, but if my hon. Friend feels that there is a particular abuse, or that a particular identification is necessary in the classification of these offences, I shall certainly look at that.