§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if registered firearms dealers will be permitted to act as referees for applicants for the granting or renewal of a firearm certificate under the Firearms Rules currently being prepared; and if he will make a statement. [45009]
§ Mr. MichaelThe proposed new Firearms Rules will not permit registered firearms dealers to act as referees in applications for the grant or renewal of a firearm certificate. The Government have concluded that, despite the good character of registered firearms dealers, the risk of a conflict of commercial interest in endorsing an application could cast doubt on their impartiality.
The only exception to this rule will be when a firearm certificate holder is applying for renewal of a certificate in respect of a firearm held for target shooting. In his Report, Lord Cullen recommended that one of the referees in these circumstances should be an official of the target shooting club of which the applicant is a member, and the Rules will therefore provide that firearms dealers who are also club officials may act as referees in these particular circumstances.
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§ Mr. Peter AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to settle claim Ref. NBRF 016830 under the terms of the Firearms Compensation Scheme. [45340]
§ Mr. MichaelThe claim with the police reference number NBRF 016830 was received in the Firearms Compensation Section on 6 August 1997, and the Option A and B elements of the claim were processed on 12 November 1997. The Option C elements, which will require individual consideration of the evidence of value provided, will be dealt with as soon as possible. I outlined the timetable for these payments in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) on 8 June 1998,Official Report, columns 438–39.
§ Mr. Peter AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total of claims paid to handgun owners under option C of the Firearms Compensation Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [45387]
§ Mr. MichaelPayments amounting to £440,160 have so far been made to handgun owners under Option C of the compensation scheme. I outlined the timetable for these payments in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) on 8 June 1998,Official Report, columns 438–39. These payments are in addition to the £2.6 million paid to firearms dealers under Option C, and the £49.4 million paid to owners and dealers under Options A and B of the scheme.