§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his Department has disposed of the guns and ancillary equipment surrendered under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [42241]
§ Mr. MichaelThe majority of guns and ancillary equipment surrendered will be destroyed in accordance with local police force arrangements. Some will be retained by the police for training purposes or acquired by suitably authorised museums.
241W
§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he has made to handle disputes over levels of compensation under Category C claims of the Firearms Compensation Scheme. [42310]
§ Mr. MichaelThe arrangements are set out in paragraphs 26 and 27 of the booklet on the original Scheme. Under the terms of Option C, claimants must submit valid documentary evidence of the value of the items claimed as at 16 October 1996. Where that evidence supports the amount claimed, then the claim will be paid. If the evidence is unsatisfactory, then the Firearms Compensation Section will request further evidence from the claimant. If that evidence is satisfactory, then the claim will be met. Where no additional evidence is submitted or the additional evidence remains unsatisfactory, the claim will be paid at the listed value or, where appropriate, the police force involved will be asked to obtain a further valuation from an independent source, selected at the discretion of the chief officer. Where this is obtained, the valuation will normally be used to calculate the payment to the claimant.
This final independent valuation stage provides a last resort arrangement to ensure that no claim should be incapable of being resolved satisfactorily.
§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects claim reference HER 13040 to be settled under the firearms compensation scheme; and if interest will be paid on this claim. [41983]
§ Mr. MichaelThe claim with the police reference number HER 13040 was received in the Firearms Compensation Section on 15 October 1997, and the Option A and B elements are now being processed. The Option C elements, which will require individual consideration of the evidence of value provided, will be dealt with at a later date.
There is no provision in the compensation scheme for the payment of interest if claims are not dealt with in a particular time. As I have said to the House on many occasions, this is a complex and generous compensation scheme which Parliament approved, and which is being implemented as quickly as possible, having regard to the need for close scrutiny of claims to guard against fraud and incorrect payment.
§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates in the last 12 months on which members of the Association of Chief Police Officers Administration of Firearms and Explosives Licensing Sub-Committee attended the Home Office Working Groups on(a) the Reference Panel on Historic Firearms, (b) the Firearms Forms, (c) the Approved Club Criteria and (d) the Home Office Memorandum of Guidance on the Administration of Firearms revision; and if he will list the names of the (i) committee members, and (ii) others attending each of these meetings. [42412]
§ Mr. MichaelDetails of those attending each meeting of the first three Working Groups (including members absent) for each date on which the Groups met in the last242W 12 months are set out in the table. There is no working group on the revision of the Home Office Memorandum of Guidance to the Police.
Members The Historic Firearms Reference Panel 12 September 1997 Mr. Graham Widdecombe (Chair) Home Office Mr. Simon Barrett Home Office DCC Graham Bennet Fife Constabulary Superintendent Jim Duncan Grampian Police Mr. Michael Lobb Northamptonshire Police Mr. Ian McColl Cambridgeshire Constabulary Mr. Richard Milner RFD Mr. David Penn Imperial War Museum Mr. Bob Pitcher London Proof House Dr. Christopher Roads Historic Arms Rescue Mr. Tom Warlow Forensic Science Service Mr. Herbert Woodend MOD Pattern Room Mr. Richard Worth (minutes) Home Office 17 September 1997 Mr. Graham Widdecombe (Chair) Home Office Mr. Simon Barrett Home Office Chief Inspector David Morris South Wales Constabulary Superintendent Jim Duncan Grampian Police Mr. Michael Lobb Northamptonshire Police Mr. Ian McColl Cambridgeshire Constabulary Mr. Richard Milner RFD Mr. David Penn Imperial War Museum Dr. Christopher Roads Historic Arms Rescue Mr. Tom Warlow Forensic Science Service Mr. Richard Worth (minutes) Home Office The Forms Working Group 19 February 1998 Mr. Simon Barrett Home Office Mr. Richard Worth Home Office Mr. Alec Moffat Fife Constabulary Superintendent Jim Duncan Grampian Police Sgt. Peter Johnson Merseyside Police Mr. Ian McColl Cambridgeshire Constabulary Ms Helene Rogers South Wales Constabulary B. G. Carter Esq Director, The Gun Trade Association Ltd. C. A. Ewing Esq OBE National Rifle Association Mr. Bill Harriman British Shooting Sports Council Mr. Derek Phillips Office of Legislative Affairs Mr. R. V. Malbon The Sportsman's Association David Penn Esq Imperial War Museum/Muzzle Loader's Association The Clubs Criteria Working Group 17 November 19971 Mr. Barrett (Chair) Home Office Mr. Courtney Muzzle Loaders Association Superintendent Duncan Grampian Police Mr. Ewing FCC/NRA Mr. Hoare BSSC/FCC/NRA Mark Groothuis Firearms Licensing Officer, Hampshire Constabulary Ch. Insp. Talbot Hampshire Constabulary Mr. Bottomley (Secretary) Home Office 1 Apologies from Mr. Fruin, Home Office, and Ms McGlynn, Scottish Office