Firearms (Hansard, 24 March 1998)

§ Mr. Alan Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many cases of compensation for handguns under (i) Option A, (ii) Option B and (iii) Option C are currently outstanding in the Northumbria Police Area; [35373]
(2) when he expects all claims for compensation for handguns under options (i) A, (ii) B and (iii) C to have been completed in the Northumbria Police Area. [35374]

§ Mr. Michael
At 20 March, over £480,000 had been paid in compensation to 704 claimants in Northumbria, mainly under Options A and B of the compensation scheme. 132 claimants from Northumbria registered on the Firearms Compensation Section (FCS) computer system have not yet received payment and a proportion of around 3,500 claims not yet registered will also be from Northumbria. In addition, 412 Northumbria claimants have outstanding claims under Option C of the compensation scheme, the great majority of which will have already received a payment under Options A and B.
The FCS expects to complete all payments under Options A and B of the large calibre handgun compensation scheme by about the end of May, and the aim is to complete most, if not all, payments under Option C by the end of the year.

§ Mr. Alan Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from(a) the police and (b) other organisations on black powder guns; [35375]
(2) what proposals he has to alter legislation regarding black powder guns. [35376]

§ Mr. Michael
The Government have received representations on black-powder guns, that is to say muzzle-loading guns using black powder as a propellant, from the Association of Chief Police Officers and from the Muzzle-Loaders Association of Great Britain. The Home Office has met representatives of both these bodies to discuss the proper regulation of shooting clubs at which muzzle-loading guns are used.
At present, the Government have no plans to introduce any further legislation on firearms controls but will keep under close scrutiny the way in which muzzle-loading weapons are used.
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