§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms certificates and shotgun certificates, respectively, were issued or renewed in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will give the corresponding figures for each year since 1968.
§ Mr. BrittanStatistics of firearms and shotgun certificates issued and renewed by chief officers of police are not collected centrally on a regular basis.
The available information is as follows:
CERTIFICATES ON ISSUE: ENGLAND AND WALES Firearm certificates Shotgun certificates 1968 216,281 — 1969 — 637,108 1971 190,649 715,453 1974 185,865 766,952 I am obtaining the figures for 1979 and will write to the hon. Member in due course.