HC Deb 13 February 1997 vol 290 c304W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which type or make of centre-fired pistols or revolvers cannot be readily dismantled; and how many of these are licensed in Northern Ireland. [15247]

Sir John Wheeler

The Government accept that handguns in general can be disassembled with varying degrees of practicability. This will depend not only on the design of the gun but also on the skill and dexterity of the owner. At the end of November 1996, there were 12,808 licensed centre-fire handguns in Northern Ireland.