Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with (a) the police and (b) professional bodies representing doctors regarding the placing of markers on the medical notes of those licensed to hold firearms.

The Government worked closely with the police and the medical profession on the development of the firearms marker that General Practitioners (GPs) place on the medical records of those who are licensed to hold a firearms certificate. The marker helps with monitoring of firearms certificate holders by alerting GPs to advise the police if there are any changes in relevant medical conditions that the police need to be made aware of so that the police force can assess whether a person remains suitable to possess a firearm certificate. Work is currently underway to digitalise the firearms marker to further strengthen these arrangements.

The new Statutory Guidance for police forces on firearms licensing, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, introduced improved arrangements for medical checks to ensure that no one is given a firearms certificate unless their doctor has confirmed to the police whether they have any relevant medical conditions. While the Home Office does not routinely monitor GPs’ use of the firearms marker on medical records, the Statutory Guidance will be kept under review to ensure that firearms licensing arrangements remain as effective as possible to protect the safety of the public including in relation to the medical check arrangements and use of the firearms marker.

While doctors can charge a fee to provide the medical information in relation to a firearms certificate application, whether a fee is charged or the level of the fee if it is charged, are a matter between the applicant and the doctor. The Statutory Guidance has made it a requirement that the police must receive relevant medical information about the applicant before a firearms certificate can be granted or renewed by the police force.