HC Deb 25 January 1996 vol 270 cc383-4W
24. Mr. Livingstone

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many licensed weapons were in private hands in Northern Ireland; and what proportion of these weapons are owned by(a) Catholics and (b) Protestants. [9650]

Sir John Wheeler

At 30 November 1995 there were a total of 133,869 weapons held on 88,092 firearms certificates received under the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

There is no information held which would indicate the religious background of an applicant.