§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the number of firearms and shotguns reported stolen in the years 1986 to 1991; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe available information relates to the number of notifiable offences of burglary and theft recorded by the police in which firearms, including shotguns, were reported to have been stolen. More than one weapon may have been stolen during each offence. The figures for 1986 to 1989 are contained in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1989" which is in the Library. The total figure for 1990 is 2,024. Figures for 1991 are not yet available.
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Applications1 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, by nationality. January to December 1991 and January to April 1992 Number of principal applicants 1991 Nationality January February March April May June July Europe and Americas Bulgaria 15 45 40 40 55 45 30 Colombia 20 15 15 10 15 — 5 Romania 25 65 80 50 35 25 40 Turkey 370 205 180 205 145 160 205 USSR 10 35 10 25 25 10 10 Others + 5 15 15 10 25 10 Total 440 370 340 350 285 260 295 Africa Angola 420 370 600 940 530 440 520 Congo 30 15 30 40 — 20 20 Ethiopia 245 150 130 195 195 120 165 Ghana 195 225 245 330 370 230 230 Nigeria 20 25 25 30 30 25 30 Somalia 240 190 170 260 190 180 160 Sudan 70 40 35 40 40 35 135 Togo/Ivory Coast 65 50 80 200 175 50 190 Uganda 305 225 275 200 80 25 55 Zaire 435 375 615 1,150 550 520 625 Others — — 130 330 240 155 330
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has of the number of illegally held firearms and shotguns; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe number of persons found guilty of possessing firearms or shotguns without the necessary certificate are published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", copies of which are in the Library. In 1990, the latest year for which figures are available, 441 persons were convicted of possessing shotguns without a certificate and 383 of possessing other firearms or ammunition without a certificate.
These figures do not show the whole picture. Although only 0.2 per cent. of notifiable offences recorded in 1990 involved a firearm combating armed crime remains a top priority. My Department has commissioned a research project by Oxford university into the source of firearms used in crime. I shall consider the results carefully to see whether further measures could be taken to reduce armed crime.
§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firearms and shotgun certificates were issued in each year between 1986 and 1991.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe number of applications for new firearm and shotgun certificates granted and the number of certificates renewed are shown for each year between 1986 and 1990 in tables 1 and 3 of Home Office statistical bulletin number 23/91. A copy of this bulletin is in the Library. Figures for 1991 are not yet available.