§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many lawfully held firearms there were in England and Wales at the latest available date. [24362]
632W
§ Mr. MichaelOn 23 December 1996, there were 418,300 firearms held on 141,900 firearm certificates and 1,335,000 shotguns held on 638,000 shotgun certificates. The number of firearms which do not need to be held on a firearm certificate (i.e. low-powered airguns and antiques held as curiosities or ornaments) is not known.
§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearm licences have been revoked in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available and in total in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [24364]
§ Mr. MichaelStatistics on firearm certificates are collected and published as part of an annual exercise and a monthly breakdown is not available. However, the totals for the last five years for which figures are available are as follows:
Year Shot gun certificates revoked Firearm certificates revoked 1996 1,163 392 1995 685 206 1994 753 193 1993 687 147 1992 630 146
§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each category of firearm which can be currently held legally by private individuals; how many licences have been issued for each of those categories of firearm in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available and in total in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [24363]
§ Mr. MichaelThere are three categories of firearm which may legally be held by private individuals. These are firearms for which no certificate is required; firearms which are required to be kept on a police-issued shotgun certificate; and firearms which are required to be kept on a police-issued firearm certificate. Statistics for the latter two categories are collected and published as part of an annual exercise and a monthly breakdown is not available. However, the totals for the last five years for both the issue and renewal of shotgun and firearm certificates are contained in the following table:
Year Shotgun Firearm Issued Renewed Issued Renewed 1996 25,800 193,100 10,200 38,100 1995 24,800 195,900 10,900 38,500 1994 32,200 201,400 11,700 37,900 1993 31,100 195,800 10,900 37,300 1992 33,000 197,200 10,600 38,500