Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Deferred
Moving to a full-cost system for licence fees would free up some more resources for...
Recommendation
Moving to a full-cost system for licence fees would free up some more resources for the police forces to spend elsewhere - including being spent on improvements to the licensing process. Assistant Chief Constable Alan Spiers told us that “there is no doubt going forward that the pressure on Police Scotland around resourcing is significant”64 and that individuals covering the full cost of applications and renewals “would go some way to supporting the service that we provide in relation to firearms licences”.65 For example, the country sports community have stated that there have been substantial delays in processing licence applications and renewals.66 Dr Michael North (a founding member of the Gun Control Network whose daughter was killed during the Dunblane Primary School tragedy) told us that “this is largely due to a lack of resources [ … ] because the licence fee does not cover the full cost of what the police have to carry out in order to provide an applicant with a licence”.67 We heard from numerous organisations that appropriate funding is needed, as firearms licences are important to public safety.68
Government Response Summary
The UK Government will consider the recommendation to move to a full-cost system for license fees further when they consult on new fees for firearms licensing later this summer.
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.