asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received in the last six months from (a) individuals and (b) organisations to reform the Firearms Act 1968, with a view to restricting the sale of airguns.
(a), 21; (b), 1.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics are available of the number of injuries sustained by individuals through the use of airguns; and if he will provide the most recent available statistics.
The number of indictable offences recorded by the police in which a person was injured by an air weapon is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—Table 3.6 of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7289. No information is available on other injuries sustained by individuals through the use of airguns.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek to amend the Firearms Act 1968 with a view to restricting (a) the sale and (b) the use of air weapons.
When there is a suitable legislative opportunity we propose to introduce legislation to increase the age limits relating to the purchase and possession of air weapons by young people.