Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 81
81
Acknowledged
However, it may not be necessary to make GPs’ involvement mandatory.
Conclusion
However, it may not be necessary to make GPs’ involvement mandatory. We heard from Superintendent Steven Duncan, Head of National Firearms and Explosives Licensing for Police Scotland, that the number of GPs who choose not to provide medical reports as part of the licensing process is “incredibly low”199, which was echoed by other witnesses. Dr Shedden estimated that “[m]aybe 10 or 20 of them are doing that in Scotland just now, 190 British Shooting Sports Council (FLR0010) 191 Q181 192 Q159 193 British Medical Association, The firearms licensing process, accessed 13 September 2022 194 Home Office, Firearms licensing: statutory guidance for Chief Officers of Police, December 2021, page 6 195 British Medical Association, The firearms licensing process, accessed 13 September 2022 196 British Association for Shooting and Conservation (FLR0015) 197 Q72 198 Q72 199 Q139 26 Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland out of over 1,000 GP practices” - concluding that “it is a low proportion”.200 Rt Hon. Chris Philp MP, Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire for the Home Office, told us that, in Scotland, 95% of GP practices do engage with the process.201 This suggests that the current process works adequately. The Minister stated: “I hesitate somewhat for the Government to intervene with regulation or statute where it is essentially working already”, but said that “I am always happy to keep it under review”.202
Government Response Summary
The UK Government acknowledges the committee's discussion around the GP role in firearms licensing and points to actions underway, including a digital marker in England and an offer to work with the Scottish Government if they wish to implement a similar system.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The GP role in firearms licensing The Committee made recommendations for changes to the GP role in firearms licensing, specifically around the GP medical marker, making their role mandatory in the process and their involvement in suggested interim checks during the life of a certificate. There has been significant strengthening of the medical checks for firearms licensing in the past couple of years, including making it a requirement for all applicants to provide relevant medical information to the police, and the development and introduction of a new digital firearms marker in England to ensure that the police are notified by the GP if there is a concerning deterioration in the certificate holder’s physical or mental health at any point after the grant of the certificate. The UK Government stands ready to work with the Scottish Government if they decide to introduce the digital marker to GP surgeries in Scotland. The Home Office will work with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Scottish Government on how to take forward the issues raised by the Committee about the medical aspects of firearms licensing, including the recommendation that GP involvement could be made mandatory. On the recommendation that the UK Government and Scottish Government work together to investigate the merits of medical practitioners and police conducting interim checks on firearms licence holders, you will see that we are seeking views on this in the consultation paper. It is the intention that the digital marker is applied by the GP in surgeries in England to the certificate holder’s medical record, to ensure that the police are notified of any concerning deterioration in the certificate holder’s physical or mental health at any point after the grant of the certificate. The Home Office will work with the Scottish Government, if it decides that it wishes to adopt a similar digital marker in Scotland. The Statutory Guidance also supports and details the requirements of continuous assessment by the police during the lifespan of a firearm or shotgun certificate, so that the police will receive information about the ongoing suitability of a certificate holder from any source during the life of the certificate.