§ Mr. Lightbownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearm and shotgun certificates were on issue in 1984 and 1985 in (a) England and Wales and (b) the Metropolitan police district.
§ Mr. Giles ShawThe information as at 31 December was as follows:
Year England and Wales Metropolitan Police District Firearm certificates Shotgun certificates Firearm certificates Shotgun certificates 1984 160,307 798,352 8,878 30,293 1985 161,318 820,978 8,957 37,147 I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that records of shotgun certificates held in the Metropolitan police office were transferred to a computer during 1985 and this has provided more readily accessible and accurate data than were available under the old manual system. It is therefore likely that a significant proportion of the 1985 increase (6,854) is attributable to previous under-recording.