Government takes forward recommendations from Scottish Affairs Committee firearms licensing inquiry
5 July 2023
The Scottish Affairs Committee publishes the Government’s response to its inquiry on firearms licensing regulations in Scotland. The Government is taking forward a number of recommendations from the Committee’s report in a public consultation.
In its report, published in December, the cross-party Committee of MPs concluded that police forces shouldn’t have to foot the bill for firearms licenses, and called for the UK Government to reform licensing fees.
In response, the Government commits to consulting on this change, where individuals who use firearms for leisure should pay the full cost of their applications, and others to use firearms for work purposes could continue to have their applications partly funded.
The Government is also consulting on recommendations made by the Committee on a ‘buddy system’, enabling individuals – such as a firearms club liaison officer - to recognise and raise concerns about their ‘buddy’s’ mental health.
The Committee also called for a review of character references required when applying for a license, and a review of the duration of firearms licences. The Government is consulting on both these issues.
The Government’s consultation is open until 23 August and can be accessed here.
Commenting on the Government’s response, Pete Wishart MP, Chair of the Scottish Affairs Committee, said:
“We’re glad to see the Government is taking forward many of our recommendations and will be consulting on further action. Firearms incidents can have terrible, heartbreaking effects on individuals, families and communities. At the end of last year, we produced a report with a series of recommendations aimed at improving the licensing of firearms, to minimise the occurrence of these awful tragedies and we’d encourage affected communities to feed thoughts into the Government’s consultation.
“We thank the Government for the considered response to our report and, as a Committee, will be following progress in this area closely.”
Further information
- Inquiry: Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland
- Scottish Affairs Committee
- About Parliament: Select committees
- Visiting Parliament: Watch committees
Image: UK Parliament/Tyler Allicock