HC Deb 28 March 1996 vol 274 cc736-7W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many(a) handguns, (b) semi-automatic weapons and (c) automatic weapons were imported into the United Kingdom for non-military activity for each year since 1985; and if he will make a statement. [21713]

Mr. Oppenheim

[holding answer 19 March 1996]: The information is not available because the system of classification under which United Kingdom trade is recorded does not separately identify handguns, semi-automatic and automatic weapons.

The total figures are given:

UK Imports of Non-MilitaryArms
Year Number Year £000
1985 192,605 12.578
1986 192,001 16,093
1987 182,203 16,438
1988 179,696 13,584
1989 178,153 14,986
1990 167,799 14,504
1991 167,796 13,081
1992 184,161 11,753
1993 R 12,657
1994 R 13,845
1995 R 15,599

Notes:

1. Non-Military arms are defined by heading 894.6 of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revision 2) for 1985–1987, and heading 891.3 of SITC (REV 3) for 1988–1995.

R = Restricted due to commercial confidentiality.

Source:

Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.