Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland

Scottish Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 23 Sep 2022 Closed: 17 Oct 2023 Parliament page
Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland The Committee will be inquiring into firearms licensing regulations and their impact in Scotland. We want to hear about whether current arrangements around firearms licenses are appropriate, or whether changes to those arrangements (including legislation) should be made. Read the call for evidence for more … Read more
27 Recommendations
75 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
5 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 14 events
5 Jul
2023
Report published
16 May
2023
Correspondence
21 Feb
2023
Correspondence
7 Feb
2023
Correspondence
22 Dec
2022
Report published
19 Dec
2022
Correspondence
19 Dec
2022
Formal meeting (private meeting) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
6 Dec
2022
Correspondence
21 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
21 Nov
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
31 Oct
2022
Oral evidence
31 Oct
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
21 Nov 2022
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Nick Hunt · Home Office Rt Hon Chris Philp MP · Home Office
31 Oct 2022
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Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs · Police Scotland Jamie MacQueen · Scottish Government Keith Brown MSP · Scottish Government Paul Allen · Scottish Government Superintendent Steven Duncan · Police Scotland
24 Oct 2022
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Dr Colin Shedden · British Association for Shooting and Conservation Dr Michael North · Gun Control Network Fraser Lamb · Scottish Association for Country Sports Gordon Matheson · Free Church of Scotland
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland HC 710 22 Dec 2022 102 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
72 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report - Firearms licensing …
Medical assessments for firearms licence holders were being carried out in Scotland for several years...
Medical assessments for firearms licence holders were being carried out in Scotland for several years before they were statutorily introduced in the UK. Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice for the Scottish Government, stated that Police Scotland have undertaken … Read more
Government Response
The government highlighted the significant strengthening of medical checks, including the digital firearms marker in England, and stated their readiness to work with the Scottish Government if they decide to introduce the digital marker in Scotland. Also, they are consulting on the issue of mandatory GP involvement.
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93 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report - Firearms licensing …
Encouraging shooting organisations to have formal buddy initiatives may also create spaces in which firearms...
Encouraging shooting organisations to have formal buddy initiatives may also create spaces in which firearms licence holders feel comfortable with discussing their mental health. This could be an important way to help improve individuals’ mental health, so that it does … Read more
Government Response
The government has been working with the police and shooting representative bodies to bring greater definition to the role of gun club liaison officers and intends to highlight this revised role and explore whether this model might be applied more widely to other shooting clubs.
Scotland Office
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101 Conclusion Accepted
Third Report - Firearms licensing …
We are concerned by the reports we heard about the impacts of fatal shootings which...
We are concerned by the reports we heard about the impacts of fatal shootings which take place in rural communities in Scotland. It is clear to us that these communities should be provided with appropriate support where needed.
Government Response
The government noted the committee's recommendation and is consulting on whether and how a similar form of leaflet on mental health could return to more in-person face to face delivery, activity can still be delivered via remote technologies and that NHS talking therapies are available on a self-referral basis.
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102 Recommendation Accepted
Third Report - Firearms licensing …
We recommend that the UK Government and Scottish Government work together either to put mental...
We recommend that the UK Government and Scottish Government work together either to put mental health resources like counselling in place in remote rural communities, or to ensure that mental health resources can be easily accessed in rural communities when … Read more
Government Response
The government noted the committee's recommendation and is consulting on whether and how a similar form of leaflet on mental health could return to more in-person face to face delivery, activity can still be delivered via remote technologies and that NHS talking therapies are available on a self-referral basis.
Scotland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 102 of 27 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 12
Acknowledged 30
Deferred 48
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 7
Total 27 recs + 75 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
16 May 2023 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Chris Philp MP, Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire at the Home Office on firearms licensing regulations in Scotland, dated 5 May 2023.
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21 Feb 2023 To committee Letter from the Rt Hon Chris Philp MP, Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire at the Home Office on the publication of the first revision of the Statutory Guidance for Chief Officers of Police on firearms licensing, dated 9 February 2023
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7 Feb 2023 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Chris Philp MP, Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire at the Home Office on firearms licensing regulations in Scotland, dated 30 January 2023
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19 Dec 2022 To committee Letter from Humza Yousaf MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care at Scottish Government on follow-up to evidence session on 31 October 2022 on Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland, dated 12 December 2022
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6 Dec 2022 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire, the Rt Hon Chris Philp MP in follow up to his appearance at the Scottish Affairs Select Committee inquiry into Firearms licensing on 21 November, dated 30 Nov 2022
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