To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were killed by a firearm in (a) the UK and (b) Sefton in each of the past 10 years. [124109]

The number of homicides committed using firearms in England and Wales in the last 10 years are given in the table.

	Number of firearm homicides1
1992	56
1993	74
1994	66
1995	70
1996	49
1997	59
1997–98	54
1998–99	49
1999–2000	62
2000–01	73
2001–02	97
1 Figures are on a calendar year basis from 1992 to 1997, and thereafter on a financial year basis (12 months to March).

Numbers of other firearm deaths are not collected by the Home Office.Numbers of firearm offences are not available centrally by local authority area.Information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.