§ Mr. LockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Nigel Locke of Vine Street, Kidderminster, can expect to receive compensation for the hand guns he has surrendered as required by law; and if he will make a statement concerning the reason for the delay in making payment to Mr. Locke. [72367]
§ Mr. BoatengCompensation was paid under Option A of the statutory surrender scheme for small-calibre pistols on 25 November 1998 and under Option C of the scheme on 17 February 1999. The more complicated Option C claims, based on individual evidence of value, are dealt with at a second stage in the interests of efficiency and to smooth the payment process. I outlined the measures we112W are taking to speed the processing of these compensation claims in my reply to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) on 28 October 1998, Official Report, columns 179–80.