§ The Earl of Shrewsburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
By how much violent crime involving handguns has decreased since Royal Assent was given to the Firearms Act 1997. [HL3084]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)Violent crime involving handguns includes the offence groups of violence against the person and robbery. The total numbers of these offences involving handguns in England and Wales and Scotland for the years ending December 1996 and 1997 and March 1998 and 1999 are given in the table.
England and Wales Scotland 1996 3,075 148 1997 2,376 116 1997–98 2,361 101 1998–99 2,417 116 The Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 does not apply in Northern Ireland.