§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new shotgun licences have been issued to persons residing (a) outside the Metropolitan police area and (b) within the Metropolitan police area in 177W each year since 1979 to date; how many persons are or have been holders of shotgun licences in each of the years since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Number of shotgun certificates on issue at 31 December England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan police district) 751,815 752,864 755,697 752,125 753,631 768,059 Metropolitan police district 30,259 28,990 29,528 28,504 29,747 30,293 Number of new shotgun certificates issued annually England and Wales (excluding the Metropolitan police district) n/a n/a n/a n/a 43,234 51,825 Metropolitan police district 2,908 3,246 3,348 2,504 3,378 3,761 Over the period the number of shotgun certificates on issue has increased by 0.1 per cent. in the Metropolitan police district compared with 2.2 per cent. elsewhere in England and Wales. Before issuing any shotgun certificate, the chief officer must of course be satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements set out in the Firearms Act 1968.
§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement upon the availablity of handguns, legally and illegally; and what his policy is in relation to the issue of licences for handguns.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI shall reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Hickmetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions (a) handguns and (b) shotguns have been discharged at (i) the police and (ii) third parties in each year since 1979 showing on how many occasions a police officer or third person was (1) injured or (2) killed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorI shall reply as soon as possible.