§ Sir L. Healdasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement giving brief particulars, with dates, of all accidents reported during the years 1956, 1957 and 1958, and so far during the present year, in which death or injury has been caused to any person or animal by a firearm carried, used or possessed by a juvenile.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe only information available for the country as a whole relates to the number of accidents involving the use of air weapons. The numbers of cases reported to the police in England and Wales of injury to the person caused by air weapons discharged 41W by persons under the age of seventeen years were as follows:
— 1956 1957 1958 Fatal injuries … — — — Serious injuries … 66 92 86 Slight injuries … 435 556 633 TOTAL … 501 648 719 For firearms, other than air weapons, used by persons under the age of seventeen, the only figures available are those for the Metropolitan Police District. In 1956 no case was reported of injury to the person; in 1957 there was one case, involving the use of a shotgun; and in 1958 there was one case, involving the use of a shotgun, in which death was caused.