HC Deb 02 December 1986 vol 106 cc572-3W
Mr. Terlezki

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of serious offences in which firearms were used between 1965 to 1970, 1970 to 1980 and 1980 to 1985 in the United Kingdom as a whole and in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland, separately; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

The available information for England and Wales relates to notifiable offences recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been used and is published by police force area in table S3.1(A) of "Criminal statistics, England and Wales, 1985, Supplementary tables Volume 3", and in similar tables in earlier volumes. Area information before 1977 is not available centrally. The available information for Scotland is for the period 1978 to 1983 and was published in Scottish Home and Health Department "Statistical Bulletin" issue 4/1985. Information on offences involving firearms in Northern Ireland is not available.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proposals are before the Council of Ministers about the mutual recognition of firearms licences within the European Economic Community; what position Her Majesty's Government take on such proposals; and if the proposals in question fall to be considered by unanimity or by majority vote;

(2) if the proposals by the Commission on the mutual recognition of firearms licensing would permit nationals of one member state to obtain firearms licences in other states.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

There are no such proposals at present before the Council of Ministers. I understand that in accordance with its White Paper entitled "Completing the Internal Market" the Commission of the European Communities expects to issue a proposal for a Council directiveon the approximation of weapons legislation and the abolition of controls on weapons at internal Community Frontiers by the end of this year.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on the basic features of firearms licensing in the various European Economic Community nations, showing the main features which are different from the United Kingdom.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

No such information is currently held.