§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will strengthen the law to prevent the drinking of alcohol by persons under the age of 18 years in public streets. [4182]
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Use of illegally held firearms in homicide, by type of firearm and calibre England and Wales 1992–94 Number of offences Type of firearm Handgun Police force 9mm .22 .32 .357 .38 .45 .445 .455 .635 N/K Total handgun Avon and Somerset 1 1 — — — 1 — — — — 3 Bedfordshire — — — — — — — — — — — Cambridgeshire — — — — — — — — — — — Cheshire — — — — — — — — — — — Cleveland — — — — — — — — — — — Cumbria — — — — — — — — — — — Derbyshire — 1 — — — — — — — — 1 Devon and Cornwall — — — — — — — — — — — Dorset — — — — — — — — — — — Durham — — — — — — — — — — — Essex — — — — — — — — — — — Gloucestershire — — — — — — — — — — — Greater Manchester — — — 2 — — — — 1 — 3 Hampshire — — — — — — — — — — — Hertfordshire — — — — — 1 — — — — 1 Humberside — — — — — — — — — — — Kent — — — — — — — — — — — Lancashire 1 — — — — — — — — — 1
. MichaelThe Government is determined to tackle the problem of young people and alcohol. We will implement the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 which will provide the police with the power to confiscate alcohol from those under 18 years of age drinking in a public place.
We have also set up a Ministerial Group to look at the promotion and sale of certain alcoholic drinks to children. We are holding urgent talks with the drinks industry to demand swift action. If we are not satisfied with the response we are prepared to take action ourselves.