asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each of the last 10 years, what was the number of shotguns involved in crime that, (a) had no serial number on them, (b) had no serial number or maker's name on them and (c) were of British or imported origin, respectively.

The available information on the use of shotguns in crime is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (table 3.2 of the volume for 1983, Cmnd. 9349). Information for 1984 is not yet available. Details of individual weapons are not collected centrally.