Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Deferred
In Scotland, individuals pay fees of £88 for each new firearms licence application and £62...
Conclusion
In Scotland, individuals pay fees of £88 for each new firearms licence application and £62 for each firearms licence renewal.51 Superintendent Steven Duncan, Head of National Firearms and Explosives Licensing for Police Scotland, told us that “fees have not been changed for a number of years”.52 However, Rt Hon. Chris Philp MP, Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire for the Home Office, stated that “costs [of processing applications] have gone up”53 since fees were last reviewed. Individuals applying for licences and renewals must also pay for medical assessments.54 The cost of medical assessments can vary considerably between medical practitioners.55
Government Response Summary
The UK Government will consider fees for firearms licensing further when they consult later this summer, informed by a data collection exercise.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
As set out in the accompanying consultation paper, the UK Government will consider this recommendation further when we consult, later this summer, on new fees for firearms licensing, which will be informed by a data collection exercise, completed earlier this year, to gather up-to-date information on the costs and time spent on licensing related activities by police force. As set out in the consultation paper, we are looking to set fees to enable full-cost recovery for the police. Income from licensing fees is crucial to ensuring that police forces have the resources they need to administer an efficient and effective licensing system and, thereby, ensure public safety.