HC Deb 05 May 1999 vol 330 cc369-70W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal handguns are estimated to be in circulation in the UK, separately identifying the figure for 9mm Browning automatics; and if he will make a statement. [83060]

Mr. Boateng

There is no reliable estimate of the number of illegal firearms in circulation in this country.

The existence of illegal firearms is of great concern to the Government. We will do all we can to ensure that the police service and Her Majesty's Customs are equipped to target this particular crime. Work is also continuing at international level to address the problems of the illicit manufacture and trafficking of firearms, notably through a Protocol to the proposed United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime.