§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by category of firearm, for each of the last five years, the number of firearms licences issued and the total number of firearms licensed in each category.
§ Mr. HurdInformation on the numbers of firearm and shotgun certificates held has only been collected regularly since 1979. The information for each of the years since then is as follows:
Number of Firearm and Shotgun Certificates on issue in England and Wales as at 31 December Year Certificates Firearm Shotgun 1979 169,590 782,074 1980 168,047 781,854 1981 164,872 785,225 1982 162,696 780,629 The other information requested is either not available or could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.