HC Deb 21 November 1979 vol 974 cc268-70W
Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) why he is awaiting the recommendations of the Health Services Board regarding the reinstitution of pay beds in National Health hospitals in Scotland before implementing the stated policy of Her Majesty's Government to bring in legislation to revoke the legislation of the previous Administration in 1976;

(2) if he has studied the report on the withdrawal of authorisation for the use by private patients of National Health Service hospitals presented by the Health Services Board as a seventh set of proposals under section 60 of the National Health Services (Scotland) Act 1978; and if he will make a statement on these proposals.

Mr. Fairgrieve

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 26 October 1979 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of

Police Area Number of new certificates Number of certificates cancelled Number of applications refused Number of certificates in force at the end of 1978*
Central Scotland … … Firearms … 132 125 4 1,594
Shotguns … 269 299 19 4,867
Dumfries and Galloway … Firearms … 226 187 — 2,842
Shotguns … 434 372 3 6,713
Fife … … Firearms … 109 95 1 1,808
Shotguns … 280 303 3 5,793
Grampian … … Firearms … 522 554 7 6,178
Shotguns … 874 1,719 11 10,795
Lothian and Borders … … Firearms … 266 405 — 4,840
Shotguns … 623 650 12 11,249
Northern … … Firearms … 953 867 1 9,660
Shotguns … 784 1,164 8 12,605
Strathclyde … … Firearms … 634 682 6 7,270
Shotguns … 1,713 1,842 20 21,004
Tayside … … Firearms … 438 381 1 4,857
… … Shotguns … 517 470 10 10,223
* These figures take account of transfers of certificates between areas.

Mr. Woolmer

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the number of firearms registered or the total of certificates for firearms in force at the end of the year in each police area for the years 1976, 1977 and 1978.

Mr. Rifkind

The number of certificates for firearms, other than shotguns, in force at the end of the year in each police area for the years 1976, 1977 and 1978 are set out in the table below:

Police Area 1976 1977 1978
Central Scotland 1,572 1,605 1,594
Dumfries and Galloway 2,776 2,804 2,842
Fife 1,780 1,777 1,808
Grampian 6,151 6,215 6,178
Lothian and Borders 5,160 5,004 4,840

State for Social Services to my hon. Friend the Member for Somerset, North (Mr. Dean).—[Vol 972, c. 350–51.]