§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of indictable offences involving air weapons committed each year in Scotland since 1975.
§ Mr. RifkindThere are no consistent figures relating to the years 1975 to 1977. In 1978 the provisional figure for the number of crimes made known to the police where an air weapon was used was 47. In addition, there were 291 cases 69W of reckless handling of air weapons where personal injury or property damage were sustained.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of persons injured and requiring hospital treatment as a consequence of incidents involving air weapons since 1975.
§ Mr. RifkindI regret that these statistics are not available.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce stricter controls on purchasing, possession and use of air weapons.
§ Mr. RifkindWhen the opportunity permits, the Government intend to consider whether the Firearms Act 1968 needs altering and this will include consideration of the existing law relating to air weapons.
Member Full-tune occupation Other Government appointments Sir William Gray, J.P., D.L., B.L., L.L.D. Practising Solicitor Member of Scottish Economic Council. (Chairman). Member of Advisory Council for Energy Conservation. Member of Central Advisory Committee of Justices of the Peace. Lewis F. Robertson, SDA—Deputy Chairman and Chief Member of Scottish Economic C.B.E. Executive. Council. Professor Sir K. W. Chairman of Highlands and Islands Economic Consultant to Secretary Alexander, B.Sc. Development Board, and Professor of State. (Econ.). of Economics, Strathclyde Univer- Member of Social Sciences Research sity (on leave of absence). Council. Member of Scottish Economic Council. Alan E. Devereux Deputy Chairman of Scotcros Ltd. — Dr. George A. Weir, Director of Corporate Planning, — Ph.D., S.E., B.A. The Weir Group Ltd. Councillor Charles Gray, J.P. Clerical Officer, British Rail (Member Strathclyde Regional Council and Chairman of their Physical Planning and Development Committee). Deputy Chairman, East Kilbride New Town Development Corporation. Member of Clyde Port Authority. Member of Scottish Economic Council. Lord Donnet, C.B.E., J.P., Retired Chairman (Part-time), Scottish Transport Group. Member of Scottish Economic Council. Member of Greater Glasgow Health Board. Douglas F. Hardie, Managing Director, Edward Parker Member of North of Scotland C.B.E., J.P. & Co. Ltd. Hydro-Electric Board. Member of Scottish Economic Council. Sir George Sharp, O.B.E., Retired Chairman (Part-time), Glenrothes J.P. New Town Development Corporation. Member of Royal Commission on Legal Services. William Aitken, M.B.E., Divisional Organiser, Amalgamated Member of Panel on Industrial J.P., D.L. Union of Engineering Workers. Tribunals.