§ Mr. WhittingdaleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total value of compensation claims made under option C for the surrender of handguns; and how many claims are outstanding. [26341]
§ Mr. MichaelOn 21 January 1998, there were 10,411 claims awaiting processing under Option C, the great majority of which came from claimants who have made mixed claims on which the Option A and B elements have been paid. In addition, a proportion of the 18,482 claims received but not yet examined will be mixed claims containing an Option C element. The total value of Option C claims will not be known until they have all been examined and the evidence of value provided is assessed under the terms of the compensation scheme.
§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce a date by which all outstanding payments under the compensation for handguns scheme will have been completed. [26731]
§ Mr. MichaelIt is impossible to be precise at this stage, but we are on target to satisfy the projections which I reported to the House on 26 November 1997,Official Report, column 542–43. The great majority of claims submitted under Options A and B will have been settled by the end of March 1998, and the great majority of claims submitted under Option C will be paid by end of 1998.