HL Deb 06 April 1998 vol 588 cc99-100WA
The Earl of Haddington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 3 June 1997 (WA 27), whether they will publish a table showing the current payments made under the Large Calibre Handgun Compensation Scheme 1997 to (a) dealers and (b) individuals in the following categories agreed by the Government:

  1. (i) large calibre pistols;
  2. (ii) expanding ammunition;
  3. (iii) small calibre pistols;
  4. (iv) ancillary equipment. [HL1220]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The information at 31 March 1998 is given in the table below. Audited details of compensation expenditure will be made available at the end of the scheme. These interim figures should therefore be regarded as provisional and subject to adjustment.

Payments made (£ million)
Items surrendered Individual Dealer Total
Large calibre handguns 14.02 3.99 18.01
Expanding ammunition 0.26 0.92 1.18
Small calibre pistols1 1.95 0.56 2.51
Ancillary equipment2 10.17 9.36 19.53
1 All payments made under the ex gratia surrender scheme for small-calibre pistols.
2 Includes payments made under the ex gratia surrender scheme for small calibre pistols.

In addition, interim payments of around £2.0 million have been made to firearms dealers pending full settlement of their claims.