Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of introducing a defined timeframe for GPs to complete the necessary licensing forms for shotguns.

Medical checks are an important part of the firearms licensing process to ensure that the police have all relevant medical information before them as part of their assessment of the suitability of an applicant for a firearm or shotgun certificate.

There is no defined timeframe for GPs to complete the medical proforma, which is a matter between the applicant and their GP.

Since the Statutory Guidance for Chief Officers of Police on firearms licensing was introduced on 1 November 2021 it has been a requirement that medical information be provided as part of all firearms licensing applications submitted to the police.