To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firearms have been seized by customs officials annually over the past five years; and how many of these weapons have subsequently been claimed by their owners.

[holding answer 20 May 1988]: The number of firearms seized by Customs during the five years 1983 to 1987 are given in the table:

Year	Firearms	Shotguns	Other	Ammunition (Rounds)
1983	1,003	5	122	7,998
1984	172	12	142	14,908
1985	263	19	245	13,069
1986	310	24	317	10,363
1987	215	3	578	11,829

Records of the number of owners subsequently claiming release of seized weapons are only kept at individual ports and airports and could not be collated centrally except at disproportionate cost.