§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of legally held handguns(a) above .22 calibre and (b) of .22 calibre and below; and in each case what estimate he has made of the cost of compensating owners and dealers if the guns are made illegal. [4784]
§ Miss WiddecombeThe number of legally held handguns of higher calibres owned by private individuals in Great Britain is estimated to be 160,000. The number of .22 rimfire handguns is estimated to be 40,000.
443WThe Government have estimated that the cost of compensating private owners and dealers in respect of handguns of above .22 rimfire calibre is between £25 million and £50 million.
The .22 rimfire handguns have not been made illegal. Had they been, the Government estimate that the cost of compensation would be in the region of £12 million.