Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for a firearms license have been made in England and Wales in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office publishes data on firearm and shotgun certificates in England and Wales, including the number of firearm licence applications made in the last ten years. The latest data cover the period April 2021 to March 2022, and are available here: Firearm certificates in England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Data on the number of firearm licence applications by year are published in table 1 of the accompanying data tables.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to change the law on gun control in the UK, following the recent fatal shooting in Liverpool.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The tragic death of nine year old Olivia Pratt-Korbel on 22 August was truly shocking.
We have some of the toughest firearms controls in the world which we keep under constant review to safeguard against abuse by criminals and to preserve public safety. In recent years we have tightened controls on antique firearms, consulted on further changes to support firearms safety, and introduced Statutory Guidance on firearms licensing to Chief Officers of Police to improve the consistency and quality of decision-making. The recent shootings in Liverpool are the subject of ongoing investigations but we will not hesitate to strengthen the controls further if necessary.
The Home Secretary visited Merseyside on 26 August and announced a £150,000 package to support the communities of Liverpool and Knowsley, which will provide specialist trauma informed support in nearby schools, as well as mental health provisions for those closely affected.
The Home Secretary also announced £350,000 to expand the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ pilot to other areas in Merseyside affected by Serious and Organised Crime.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to require all legal firearms to be stored at a designated gun club premises.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Police forces are responsible for the issue of firearm and shotgun certificates and they undertake a number of checks before granting a certificate to ensure that the applicant is suitable and does not pose a risk to themselves or to others.
New Statutory Guidance for the police on their firearms licensing functions, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, has strengthened these arrangements. In particular, the Statutory Guidance ensures that that no one is granted a firearm or shotgun certificate unless their doctor has confirmed to the police whether or not they have any relevant medical conditions, including in relation to their mental health.
While firearm and shotgun certificates are valid for five years, the Statutory Guidance requires the police to maintain continuous assessment during the life of the certificate and the police have the power to revoke certificates and seize the holder’s shotguns or firearms if they assess that a risk to public safety has arisen during the life of the certificate.
We have no plans to require all firearms and shotguns to be stored at designated gun club premises. The police assess the safe storage of firearms and shotguns as part of the licensing process. The Statutory Guidance requires a home visit to be carried out before granting a certificate, which will include an inspection of arrangements for the secure storage of firearms and shotguns while not in use. In addition, as part of continuous assessment, the police are able to undertake an unannounced visit or inspection of the certificate holder’s premises where it is judged necessary to do so, based on specific intelligence relating to a particular threat, or in relation to the risk of harm.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of strengthening the criteria required for people to hold a gun license.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Police forces are responsible for the issue of firearm and shotgun certificates and they undertake a number of checks before granting a certificate to ensure that the applicant is suitable and does not pose a risk to themselves or to others.
New Statutory Guidance for the police on their firearms licensing functions, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, has strengthened these arrangements. In particular, the Statutory Guidance ensures that that no one is granted a firearm or shotgun certificate unless their doctor has confirmed to the police whether or not they have any relevant medical conditions, including in relation to their mental health.
While firearm and shotgun certificates are valid for five years, the Statutory Guidance requires the police to maintain continuous assessment during the life of the certificate and the police have the power to revoke certificates and seize the holder’s shotguns or firearms if they assess that a risk to public safety has arisen during the life of the certificate.
We have no plans to require all firearms and shotguns to be stored at designated gun club premises. The police assess the safe storage of firearms and shotguns as part of the licensing process. The Statutory Guidance requires a home visit to be carried out before granting a certificate, which will include an inspection of arrangements for the secure storage of firearms and shotguns while not in use. In addition, as part of continuous assessment, the police are able to undertake an unannounced visit or inspection of the certificate holder’s premises where it is judged necessary to do so, based on specific intelligence relating to a particular threat, or in relation to the risk of harm.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory mental health assessment of anyone with a firearms license about whom a mental health concern is reported.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Police forces are responsible for the issue of firearm and shotgun certificates and they undertake a number of checks before granting a certificate to ensure that the applicant is suitable and does not pose a risk to themselves or to others.
New Statutory Guidance for the police on their firearms licensing functions, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, has strengthened these arrangements. In particular, the Statutory Guidance ensures that that no one is granted a firearm or shotgun certificate unless their doctor has confirmed to the police whether or not they have any relevant medical conditions, including in relation to their mental health.
While firearm and shotgun certificates are valid for five years, the Statutory Guidance requires the police to maintain continuous assessment during the life of the certificate and the police have the power to revoke certificates and seize the holder’s shotguns or firearms if they assess that a risk to public safety has arisen during the life of the certificate.
We have no plans to require all firearms and shotguns to be stored at designated gun club premises. The police assess the safe storage of firearms and shotguns as part of the licensing process. The Statutory Guidance requires a home visit to be carried out before granting a certificate, which will include an inspection of arrangements for the secure storage of firearms and shotguns while not in use. In addition, as part of continuous assessment, the police are able to undertake an unannounced visit or inspection of the certificate holder’s premises where it is judged necessary to do so, based on specific intelligence relating to a particular threat, or in relation to the risk of harm.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring each gun license in England to be reviewed once per annum.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Police forces are responsible for the issue of firearm and shotgun certificates and they undertake a number of checks before granting a certificate to ensure that the applicant is suitable and does not pose a risk to themselves or to others.
New Statutory Guidance for the police on their firearms licensing functions, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, has strengthened these arrangements. In particular, the Statutory Guidance ensures that that no one is granted a firearm or shotgun certificate unless their doctor has confirmed to the police whether or not they have any relevant medical conditions, including in relation to their mental health.
While firearm and shotgun certificates are valid for five years, the Statutory Guidance requires the police to maintain continuous assessment during the life of the certificate and the police have the power to revoke certificates and seize the holder’s shotguns or firearms if they assess that a risk to public safety has arisen during the life of the certificate.
We have no plans to require all firearms and shotguns to be stored at designated gun club premises. The police assess the safe storage of firearms and shotguns as part of the licensing process. The Statutory Guidance requires a home visit to be carried out before granting a certificate, which will include an inspection of arrangements for the secure storage of firearms and shotguns while not in use. In addition, as part of continuous assessment, the police are able to undertake an unannounced visit or inspection of the certificate holder’s premises where it is judged necessary to do so, based on specific intelligence relating to a particular threat, or in relation to the risk of harm.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will increase the age at which someone in the UK can legally own a firearm.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
While the UK has some of the toughest firearms legislation in the world, we keep these controls under constant review to ensure they support public safety. In recent years we have taken action on firearms in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, tightened controls on antique weapons, consulted on further changes to support firearms safety, tightened restrictions on registered firearms dealers, and introduced Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police on firearms licensing. We have no plans though to introduce changes to the age at which someone can own a firearm legally.
Police forces are responsible for issuing firearm and shotgun certificates. A certificate will only be granted after the application has been carefully assessed and a number of checks completed, including medical checks, to ensure that the certificate holder does not pose a risk to themselves or the wider public.
We have taken steps to strengthen these arrangements by issuing Statutory Guidance for the police on firearms licencing, to ensure greater consistency and improved standards across all police forces.
The Statutory Guidance, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, not only sets out the checks that must be undertaken at the time of application, but it also requires the police to maintain continuous assessment of certificate holders. The police have the power to revoke certificates and seize the holder’s shotguns or firearms if they assess that there is a risk to public safety. We are keeping the Statutory Guidance under review, and will strengthen it further, if circumstances so require.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department takes to conduct regular assessments of the suitably of people who own firearms to have a license to own such a weapon.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
While the UK has some of the toughest firearms legislation in the world, we keep these controls under constant review to ensure they support public safety. In recent years we have taken action on firearms in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, tightened controls on antique weapons, consulted on further changes to support firearms safety, tightened restrictions on registered firearms dealers, and introduced Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police on firearms licensing. We have no plans though to introduce changes to the age at which someone can own a firearm legally.
Police forces are responsible for issuing firearm and shotgun certificates. A certificate will only be granted after the application has been carefully assessed and a number of checks completed, including medical checks, to ensure that the certificate holder does not pose a risk to themselves or the wider public.
We have taken steps to strengthen these arrangements by issuing Statutory Guidance for the police on firearms licencing, to ensure greater consistency and improved standards across all police forces.
The Statutory Guidance, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, not only sets out the checks that must be undertaken at the time of application, but it also requires the police to maintain continuous assessment of certificate holders. The police have the power to revoke certificates and seize the holder’s shotguns or firearms if they assess that there is a risk to public safety. We are keeping the Statutory Guidance under review, and will strengthen it further, if circumstances so require.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the strictness of legislation on firearms in the UK.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
While the UK has some of the toughest firearms legislation in the world, we keep these controls under constant review to ensure they support public safety. In recent years we have taken action on firearms in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, tightened controls on antique weapons, consulted on further changes to support firearms safety, tightened restrictions on registered firearms dealers, and introduced Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police on firearms licensing. We have no plans though to introduce changes to the age at which someone can own a firearm legally.
Police forces are responsible for issuing firearm and shotgun certificates. A certificate will only be granted after the application has been carefully assessed and a number of checks completed, including medical checks, to ensure that the certificate holder does not pose a risk to themselves or the wider public.
We have taken steps to strengthen these arrangements by issuing Statutory Guidance for the police on firearms licencing, to ensure greater consistency and improved standards across all police forces.
The Statutory Guidance, which came into effect on 1 November 2021, not only sets out the checks that must be undertaken at the time of application, but it also requires the police to maintain continuous assessment of certificate holders. The police have the power to revoke certificates and seize the holder’s shotguns or firearms if they assess that there is a risk to public safety. We are keeping the Statutory Guidance under review, and will strengthen it further, if circumstances so require.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a 10-year long firearms licence.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
At present there are no changes proposed to the firearms application process. On 1 November 2021 new statutory guidance for police forces on firearms licensing was introduced which brings greater consistency and higher standards to police firearms licensing across the country.
The statutory guidance introduced a requirement for relevant medical information about firearms applicants to be provided to the police before grant or renewal of a firearm or shotgun certificate, to ensure the safety of the public and of the firearm certificate holder themselves. This strengthens the firearms licensing process and brings greater consistency to licensing across both rural and urban areas, as the provision of relevant medical information has always been a very important part of the decision by police forces to grant or renew a firearm or shotgun certificate but its provision varied across the country.
While doctors can charge a fee to provide the medical information for a firearm application, whether a fee is charged or the level or the fee is a matter between the applicant and the doctor. In relation to the charges which may be levied by doctors, applicants are able to approach their GP to supply the necessary medical information, or they can arrange for the information to be provided by another suitably qualified GMC-registered doctor.
Information is published annually by the Home Office about firearm and shotgun certificates issued by the police. This does not include the numbers of licences which have not been renewed since the introduction of the requirement for medical information to be provided with the application.
The duration of firearm and shotgun certificates is five years. There are no plans to increase the duration of the length of these certificates at present. However, firearms licensing is kept under review and we will consider in due course whether there is a case for increasing the length of the duration of firearm and shotgun certificates following the introduction and monitoring over a reasonable period of time of the new digital firearms marker, which will improve how GP patient records are flagged to indicate to the doctor that a person is a firearm certificate holder, after the digital marker is released to GPs. It will also be important to ensure the statutory guidance for police forces is working as effectively as possible, and we will also have to have regard to the current independent reviews and Coroners’ inquests in Plymouth and West Sussex and whether any relevant findings are made.