Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the itemised costs to (1) the Home Office, and (2) the police, of the grant and renewal of authorities under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 for each of the last three years.

The Department published the estimated average annual costs associated with issuing licences for museums, Home Office approved shooting clubs, and Section 5 licences in the impact assessment that accompanied the recent consultation on firearms. Average annual costs to the Home Office were estimated to be £596,000. Average annual costs to the police in England and Wales were estimated to be £69,000. Average annual costs to the police in Scotland were estimated to be £5,000. The impact assessment is available on www.gov.uk website and has been attached to this answer.