§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of gun clubs in each Scottish local government district, the total number of weapons held in each and the total membership in each for each year since 1985. [21715]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThere are currently 247 gun clubs in Scotland approved by the Scottish Office under section 15 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988. More detailed information about these clubs is not available centrally, but I am arranging for it to be collected and made available to the inquiry to be held by Lord Cullen.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of firearms certificates(a) which are issued for new applications, (b) which are renewals and (c) which are valid for more than one year for each year since 1985. [21708]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information is as follows:
New certificates Renewals1 1985 3,167 2— 1986 3,391 10,200 1987 3,223 9,800 1988 3,307 9,900 1989 2,669 10,100 1990 2,697 8,700 1991 1,850 8,400 1992 1,851 8,300 1993 1,770 8,500 1994 1,991 9,200 1 The renewals figures have been estimated centrally to take account of forces unable to provide this information. 2 Not collected. New firearm certificates granted prior to 1995 were initially made valid for three years and could be renewed after this time for further three-year periods. Since the Firearms (Period of Certificate) Order 1994 came into effect on 1 January 1995, the order has extended the life of all firearm certificates granted or renewed after that date to five years.