§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the regular publication of the total numbers of firearm and shotgun certificates valid at a fixed date annually.
§ Mr. MayhewWe shall continue to make this information available on request, but are not persuaded that special arrangements for publishing it would be justified.
§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of firearm and shotgun certificates, respectively, which were valid at 31 December 1981; and what were the equivalent figures for the three previous years.
§ Mr. MayhewThe figures for 1981 are not yet available, but my noble Friend will write to the hon. Member as soon as they are. No information was collected centrally for 1978, but the figures for 1979 and 1980 are as follows:
Firearm certificates Shotgun certificates 1979 169,590 783,069 1980 168,047 781,854