HC Deb 10 May 1996 vol 277 cc308-10W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all firearms which do not currently require a licence; and if he will make a statement. [28253]

Mr. Maclean

The only weapons which meet the definition of a firearm in the Firearms Acts but do not require a firearm certificate are low powered air weapons and antique firearms kept as curiosities or ornaments. In addition there are several exemptions under the Firearms Acts to the general requirement to have a certificate issued by the police, but these are dependent on the user, or the proposed use of the weapon, rather than the firearm itself.

Mr. Touhig

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many(a) firearm certificates and (b) shotgun certificates have been issued in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1992, (iv) 1993, (v) 1994 and (vi) 1995; [28258]

(2) how many registered firearms dealers there were in the United Kingdom in (a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1992, (d) 1993, (e) 1994 and (f) 1995; [28266]

(3) how many firearm certificates and shotgun certificates have been revoked in accordance with section 30 of the Firearms Act 1968 in (a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1992, (d) 1993, (e) 1994 and (f) 1995. [28257]

Mr. Maclean

The available information for 1985, 1992, 1993 and 1994 is published in Home Office statistical bulletin "Firearm Certificate Statistics, England and Wales", copies of which can be found in the Library.

Figures for 1980 and for the number of registered firearms dealers and the number of firearm and shotgun certificates revoked in 1985 are not available centrally.

Provisional figures for 1995 show that 49,000 firearm and 220,700 shotgun certificates were issued in England and Wales and 2,470 firearms dealers were registered at 31 December. A total of 206 firearm and 685 shotgun certificates were revoked.

Figures for Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and figures for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.