Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government who is responsible for ensuring that all those involved in the sale and purchase of guns are medically fit to hold a licence to be in control of firearms intended for sale; and how is the information about any concerns shared between different areas of jurisdiction.

The police are responsible for assessing the suitability of those who seek to be registered as a firearms dealer or to be issued with a firearm or shotgun certificate, including their medical suitability, to ensure the safety of the public. When applying to be registered as a firearms dealer, a person who is not already a firearm or shotgun certificate holder must provide details of their doctor and disclose any relevant physical or mental health conditions that they have been diagnosed with or treated for in the past for consideration by the police.

When seeking to be registered as a firearms dealer a person must apply to their local police force, who will consider the application and carry out the necessary checks to assess the applicant’s suitability.

A consultation on the introduction of statutory firearms guidance to the police, including in relation to the medical arrangements, closed on 17 September. The responses are being considered and the Government will publish a response in due course.