§ Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total paid out to date in compensation under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 compensation scheme; what are the projections for future expenditure; and what additional compensation will be given to those whose payments have been delayed. [24511]
§ Mr. MichaelAs at 16 January, £30.3 million had been paid. The estimate for the total cost of the compensation schemes under the two 1997 Acts, including administration costs, is £166 million. No payments have been "delayed". It has been made clear from the start that the size and complexity of the compensation arrangements would make this a long process and this Government, like the previous Government, argued in the debates that no guarantees could be given that payments would be made within a particular timescale. The House accepted that position, and accordingly there are no arrangements in the schemes for the payment of additional sums if claims are not settled within a given time.
Everything possible is being done to process claims in the shortest possible time. Weekend overtime is being worked, casual staff have been appointed and data processing staff have been introduced to enter the payment details on to the computer system, allowing the trained examiners more time to spend on processing the claims.
We can understand the impatience of those awaiting settlement of their claims, but the position is not helped by the volume of inquiries pressing for early payment, which simply divert staff from their primary task of processing claims, thereby hampering the efforts to reduce turn-round times.
§ Mr. PaiceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will defer the surrender date of handguns under the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997, until all outstanding compensation has been paid for handguns surrendered under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997; [25198]
(2) what action he is taking to expedite the payment of compensation for owners of handguns; and if he will pay interest on all sums not paid within 30 days of surrender. [25072]
§ Mr. Michael[holding answer 23 January 1998]: It has been made clear from the start that the size and complexity of the compensation arrangements would make this a long process, and this Government, like the previous Government, argued in the debates that no guarantees could be given that payments would be made within a particular timescale. The House accepted that position, and accordingly there are no arrangements in the schemes for the payment of additional sums if claims are not settled within a given time.
Everything possible is being done to process claims in the shortest possible time. Weekend overtime is being worked, casual staff have been appointed and data processing staff have been introduced to enter the payment details on to the computer system, allowing the trained examiners more time to spend on processing the claims.
42WWe can understand the impatience of those awaiting settlement of their claims, but the position is not helped by the volume of inquiries pressing for early payment, which simply divert staff from their primary task of processing claims, thereby hampering the efforts to reduce turn-round times.
Arrangements for the surrender of small-calibre pistols during February are well advanced and by now most certificate holders and dealers will have received details about where and when to hand in their firearms. There are no plans to defer the surrender period. There is no reason to do so and it would cause massive confusion for the police, for shooters and for the general public.