Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the average time taken for (1) all, and (2) individual, police forces in England and Wales to process (a) applications for, and (b) renewals of (i) shotgun, and (ii) firearms, certificates.

The issuing of firearms certificates and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police and they are held to account by Police and Crime Commissioners. However, the performance of forces is being actively monitored by the National Police Chiefs' Council's lead for firearms licensing, Deputy Chief Constable David Gardner, who is developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams, which it is planned to be published to provide greater transparency on application turnaround times. This will include a performance target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months, unless there are concerns about the suitability of the applicant.