FIREARMS LICENCE FEE

Early day motion 1161, tabled 10 March 2014 by Chris Williamson (Labour). Signed by 36 members.

That this House urges the Government to increase the firearms licence fee to eliminate the £17 million burden placed upon police services to subsidise private gun ownership; notes that the current fee stands at £50 while its costs the police £196 to process each private gun licence; further notes that police services across the country are facing severe financial pressures resulting in a reduction in the number of frontline and specialist police officers; agrees that every measure possible should be taken to protect funding for vital police work; and acknowledges that when the Government is imposing extensive public spending reductions it is unacceptable to use funding earmarked for policing to subsidise an activity by a small minority of the British public.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 4, Alliance 1, Green 1, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.