HL Deb 29 March 1999 vol 599 cc7-8WA
The Earl of Denbigh

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many claims are still outstanding for compensation on handguns under (a) Option A; (b) Option B; and (c) Option C of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; and [HL1599]

When claimants of compensation schemes may reasonably expect payment for complying with Her Majesty's Government's demand for surrendering their lawfully held handguns under the compensation scheme. [HL1600]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Payment offers have been made on all but around 400 claims, principally under Option C of the compensation schemes, which cannot yet be fully processed, mainly because the required evidence of value of the surrendered guns and ancillary equipment has not yet been provided. There are around 5,000 outstanding offers of payment awaiting a response from the claimant before a final payment can be made. The bulk of these should be cleared within the next few days.