§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown in the Official Report of the latest figures available for the number of accidents and deaths resulting from the use of dangerous weapons, including guns, crossbows, swords and knives.
§ Sir George YoungReadily available figures are as follows:
DEATHS DUE TO CUTTING OR PIERCING INSTRUMENTS AND FIREARM MISSILES ENGLAND AND WALES 1978 ICD (8th Revision) Males Females Accidental death: E920 Caused by cutting or piercing instruments 13 6 E922 Caused by firearm missiles 16 2 Suicide and self-inflicted injury: E955 By firearms and explosives 180 9 E956 By cutting or piercing instruments 86 22 Homicide and injury purposely inflicted by other persons: E965 Assault by firearms and explosives 31 11 E966 Assault by cutting or piercing instruments 136 67 Injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely in flicted: E985 Injury by firearms and explosives 15 2 F.986 Injury by cutting or piercing instruments 7 2 In 1973, the latest year for which such details are available, there was a total of 17 deaths involving knives. No deaths were registered involving swords, bows or crossbows in that year.
Equivalent figures are not available for non-fatal accidents.