§ Mr. CollinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the quantity of illegal arms in circulation in England and Wales and on the impact on the illegal arms trade of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [23490]
§ Mr. MichaelThere is no reliable estimate of the number of illegal firearms in this country. The primary purpose of the 1997 legislation, especially the banning of handguns, is to provide greater safeguards for the safety of the public, given that the shootings at Dunblane and Hungerford were committed using lawfully held weapons. In 1996, there were 294 incidents in which handguns were stolen or otherwise misappropriated so the ban will remove a significant supply of weapons for use in crime.
§ Mr. CollinsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his current estimate of the sums paid under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 Compensation Scheme to handgun owners(a) since the commencement of the scheme and (b) once full compensation has been paid. [23544]
§ Mr. MichaelOn 6 January 1998, £30.3 million had been paid out under the Firearms Compensation Scheme. The latest total estimate for the Scheme, including payments for small-calibre pistols and ancillary equipment to be surrendered during February, is £166 million.