Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Deferred
Applicants do not pay for the full cost of their licences.
Conclusion
Applicants do not pay for the full cost of their licences. The cost to the police forces processing applications and renewals is higher than the income from licence fees. Some reports state that “the cost of handling a firearms licence application by the licensing departments can differ by up to six times”56 - ranging from approximately £80 to over £500.57
Government Response Summary
The government will consider this recommendation further when they consult on new fees for firearms licensing, informed by a data collection exercise to gather up-to-date information on the costs, looking to set fees to enable full-cost recovery for the police.
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.