§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current delay in processing applications for compensation under Category C of the Firearms Compensation Scheme; and what was the delay(a) one month ago and (b) two months ago. [45548]
§ Mr. MichaelThe Firearms Compensation Section (FCS) is currently working on Option C claims lodged with the police on 13 July 1997. I regret that information is not available on the comparable processing dates in previous months. Having cleared the claims under Options A and B of the compensation scheme, the FCS is now devoting its resources to processing the remaining claims under Option C. Around 900 payments totalling over £3.1 million have been made under Option C, including interim payments to firearms dealers, and offers of payment have been made in a further 450 cases. These will be processed as soon as the necessary Declarations have been returned by the claimant. I outlined the timetable for completion of Option C payments in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North Thanet (Mr. Gale) on 8 June 1998,Official Report, columns 438–39.