Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits introducing drug contamination testing facilities in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government has not made a formal assessment of the benefits of drug checking facilities, but it recognises the potential harm reduction benefits of them.
The Government facilitates drug checking facilities provided that the possession and supply of controlled drugs are licensed by the Home Office Drugs and Firearms Licensing Unit or, exceptionally, relevant exemptions under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 may apply.
Ministers are clear that drug checking services must not condone drug use and should only be delivered where licensed and operated responsibly, in line with Government policy to ensure that they discourage drug use and signpost potential users to treatment and support.
Oct. 25 2023
Source Page: Customs Declaration Service (CDS) waiver codes for imports replacing 999LFound: the Importation of Animal pathogens Order 1980 (IAPO) 9020 Department for Business & Trade, Import Licensing
Jun. 30 2023
Source Page: Firearms licensing: a consultation on recommendations for changes made to the Home Office. Incl. annex. 39p.Found: Firearms licensing: a consultation on recommendations for changes made to the Home Office.
Apr. 09 2024
Source Page: Reform to the fees applicable under the hemp licensing regimeFound: Reform to the fees applicable under the hemp licensing regime
Apr. 09 2024
Source Page: Reform to the fees applicable under the hemp licensing regimeFound: Reform to the fees applicable under the hemp licensing regime
Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reassure medical practitioners who have conducted a medical check for the grant of a firearms licence certificate that there is no legal liability in the event of future misuse of that firearm.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Statutory Guidance to Chief Officers of Police for firearms licensing, which was introduced in November 2021 and refreshed in February 2023, requires applicants to provide relevant medical information from their doctor with their firearms application.
This is an important part of the licensing process which ensures that the police can consider the applicant’s medical suitability to be in possession of a firearm, helping to keep the public safe from the misuse of firearms. Doctors are also asked to place a firearms flag on the patient record as part of the continuous assessment by police of certificate holders during the five-year validity of the certificate.
The Statutory Guidance makes it clear that the responsibility for assessing whether a person is suitable to be granted a firearm certificate lies with the police, and not with the applicant’s GP or doctor. The Statutory Guidance contains a link to a Memorandum of Understanding agreed in July 2019 between the British Medical Association, the National Police Chiefs Council and the Home Office.
The Memorandum of Understanding sets out that the legal responsibility for the assessment of the suitability of a firearms applicant or certificate holder lies with the police and not with the GP. It states that while GPs will endeavour to share relevant medical information with the police, there is no legal liability if they fail to do so.
Special Report Jul. 05 2023
Committee: Scottish Affairs Committee (Department: Scotland Office)Found: Eighth Special Report - Firearms licensing regulations in Scotland: Government response to the Committee
Mentions:
1: Lord Colgrain (CON - Excepted Hereditary) The first will require any person who operates a miniature rifle range to have been granted a firearms - Speech Link
2: Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (LAB - Life peer) The second was that family members of a certificate holder who is an operator of a firearms range or - Speech Link
3: Lord Sharpe of Epsom (CON - Life peer) licensing controls, as my noble friend explained. - Speech Link
Laid - 17 May 2024 In Force 14 Jun 2024
The Sentencing Act 2020, as amended by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, makes provision for special procedures to apply to community orders and suspended sentence orders in certain cases.
Found: under section 1 or section 1A of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953(6); (b)an offence under Part 1 of the Firearms
Feb. 29 2024
Source Page: An inspection of Border Force practice and procedures in relation to firearms (September – October 2023)Found: An inspection of Border Force practice and procedures in relation to firearms (September – October 2023