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Tuberculosis
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many cases of tuberculosis among the registered homeless have been diagnosed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement; [1584]
- (2) how many registered homeless have died from tuberculosis in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement; [1557]
(3) how many people have died from tuberculosis in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement; [1574]
(4) how many cases of tuberculosis have been diagnosed in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [1582]
Mr. Moss: Information on tuberculosis among homeless people is not available separately.
6 Nov 1996 : Column: 560
| Year | Notifications of all cases of tuberculosis in Northern Ireland(10) | Number of deaths due to tuberculosis in Northern Ireland(11) |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 108 | 14 |
| 1987 | 99 | 15 |
| 1988 | 86 | 9 |
| 1989 | 94 | 13 |
| 1990 | 131 | 12 |
| 1991 | 96 | 7 |
| 1992 | 84 | 11 |
| 1993 | 90 | 13 |
| 1994 | 92 | 8 |
| 1995 | 90 | (12)14 |
Source:
(10) Return of Infectious Diseases Notified to Health and Social Services Boards.
(11) General Register Office Records.
(12) Provisional.
Gun Clubs
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many gun clubs exist in Northern Ireland; what regulations govern their conduct; and if he will provide a breakdown of membership numbers. [1611]
Sir John Wheeler: At present there are 42 firearms clubs in Northern Ireland authorised by the Secretary of State under article 54 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. Clubs must meet a number of criteria in order to obtain and retain this approval, the main elements of which are:
- (i) a club may introduce a potential member to the sport at a club session. This "interim member" must be introduced and sponsored by at least one full club member or officials before his/her application to become a "probationary member" is accepted, the interim member must attend the club regularly on a number of occasions and become known to club officials.
(ii) Before becoming a full member, the probationary member must have been a member of the club for at least 12 months during which time he/she must attend and shoot regularly. The probationary member must be given a course in the safe handling and use of firearms on a one-to-one basis by someone who is either a full member of the club or who is a qualified coach. Once a probationary member has satisfactorily completed a course in the safe handling and use of firearms, he/she must for the remainder of the probationary period be supervised at all times when in possession of firearms or ammunition by either the range officer, a full member of the club or someone who is a qualified coach;
(iii) the security arrangements for the storage of club firearms and ammunition must meet the approval of the RUC.
Firearms
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown of the reasons given for the legal possession of firearms in Northern Ireland. [1609]
6 Nov 1996 : Column: 561
Sir John Wheeler: The following are accepted as "good reason" for the possession of firearms in Northern Ireland, as required by the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981:
Sporting purposes;
Vermin control;
Personal protection;
Target use;
Collectors' items;
Possession only;
Miscellaneous (including humane killing, starting pistols, and firearms held by fishermen for protection of their nets).
Sir John Wheeler: It is not possible to say how many current firearms certificates are solely for handguns in Northern Ireland as some certificates may include more than one firearm. There were however 12,872 hand guns held on firearm certificates at 30 September 1996.
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions in each of the past 10 years firearms licences have been revoked. [1612]
Sir John Wheeler: The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has informed me that firearm certificates have been revoked in each of the last 10 years as follows:
1986: 144
1987: 157
1988: 148
1989: 135
1990: 131
1991: 110
1992: 94
1993: 97
1994: 113
1995: 115
1996: 75 (to 22 October).
Sir John Wheeler: There is no specific limit to the numbers of firearms which may be held on a person's firearm certificate but, in accordance with article 28 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, the Chief Constable must be satisfied that the holder has shown "good reason" for purchasing, acquiring or having in his possession each firearm for which an application is made.
At 30 September 1996 there were 134,103 firearms held on 87,302 firearm certificates issued by the Chief Constable.
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the number of firearms and shotguns, by the categories used by the RUC, held in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and how many of these were identified as being used in crime in each of those years. [1965]
6 Nov 1996 : Column: 562
Sir John Wheeler
[holding answer 1 November 1996]: (i) The figures for the number of firearms held on certificate in each of the last three years is as follows:
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shotguns | 84,270 | 84,733 | 85,269 |
| Air Weapons | 19,939 | 20,447 | 21,074 |
| Rifles | 13,079 | 13,175 | 13,460 |
| Handguns | 12,008 | 12,833 | 12,917 |
| Miscellaneous | 1,214 | 1,250 | 1,307 |
| Totals | 130,510 | 132,438 | 134,027 |
(ii) At present the RUC is unable to distinguish, from its records, whether the firearms used in crimes have been held legally or illegally. The RUC is, however, currently considering whether it is possible to set up a system which would facilitate the retrieval of such information. The Chief Constable estimates that less than 1 per cent. of these cases would have involved legally held firearms.
The following is a record of cases in which firearms have been used in the last three years:
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research he has (a) evaluated and (b) commissioned of low impact development in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [2343]
Mr. Moss:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its Chief Executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. Martyn Jones, dated 6 November 1996:
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when work commenced at the new amenity site at Moss road, Millisle; which agency is the promoter of this scheme; how many objectors there were to this scheme; when the scheme was given planning permission; and if he will make a statement. [2439]
Mr. Moss:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its chief executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 6 November 1996:
1993: 1,185 (including 86 crimes involving shotguns)
1994: 963 (including 77 crimes involving shotguns)
1995: 518 (including 73 crimes involving shotguns).
Mr. Moss has asked me to reply to your Question about research into low impact development in rural areas.
The Planning Service has neither evaluated nor commissioned any research into low impact development in rural areas.
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