Lord Cameron of Lochiel

On 15 January 2025, the Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament that will increase fees charged by police forces to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications, in line with the Government's manifesto commitment on firearms fees. The fees were last increased in 2015 and they are now considerably below the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that increased fees are introduced so that service improvements can be made. The new fees will come into effect on 5 February.

The new fees are based on data produced by a review of firearms licensing costs in 31 police forces in January 2023. This data has since been updated to reflect increases in costs since then. The review was discussed at the Firearms Fees Working Group, chaired by the Home Office, which met in 2022 and 2023 with representation from:

· National Police Chiefs' Council

· Association of Police and Crime Commissioners

· Police Scotland

· Scottish Government

· Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

· British Shooting Sports Council

· British Association for Shooting and Conservation

· Gun Trade Association

· National Rifle Association

· Countryside Alliance

· National Gamekeepers Organisation

· Scottish Association for Country Sports.

A full impact assessment, which covers the impact of increased fees on rural communities, was published alongside the statutory instrument. The Policing Minister met with both the BSSC and BASC on the 13 January 2025.

On 15 January 2025, the Government laid a statutory instrument before Parliament that will increase fees charged by police forces to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications, in line with the Government's manifesto commitment on firearms fees. The fees were last increased in 2015 and they are now considerably below the cost of the service provided. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that increased fees are introduced so that service improvements can be made. The new fees will come into effect on 5 February.

The new fees are based on data produced by a review of firearms licensing costs in 31 police forces in January 2023. This data has since been updated to reflect increases in costs since then. The review was discussed at the Firearms Fees Working Group, chaired by the Home Office, which met in 2022 and 2023 with representation from:

· National Police Chiefs' Council

· Association of Police and Crime Commissioners

· Police Scotland

· Scottish Government

· Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

· British Shooting Sports Council

· British Association for Shooting and Conservation

· Gun Trade Association

· National Rifle Association

· Countryside Alliance

· National Gamekeepers Organisation

· Scottish Association for Country Sports.

A full impact assessment, which covers the impact of increased fees on rural communities, was published alongside the statutory instrument. The Policing Minister met with both the BSSC and BASC on the 13 January 2025.

£16.7 million has been awarded to 46 projects in Scotland through the Community Ownership Fund. £10.4 million has been drawn down by projects to date.

A number of these projects have completed including The Heart of Newhaven in Edinburgh and the Y Centre in Perth. We will continue to provide funding to successful projects that have been announced.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) operates under a delegated delivery model, meaning lead local authorities are responsible for managing the funding for their area and the allocation of funds to projects.

Lead local authorities in Scotland have been paid £188.6m of the £212m available to them for delivery up to March 2025. The outstanding £16.8m remains available to be paid to lead local authorities at the end of the financial year, based on actual spend. UKSPF funding allocations for 2022-25 are unaffected by the 2024 Autumn Budget announcement.

Delivery activity under the UK Community Renewal Fund ended on 31 December 2022; and all funding has been paid to projects in Scotland.

£471 million has been awarded to 24 projects in Scotland through the Levelling Up Fund and to date £132 million has been released. At Autumn Budget 2024 we were pleased to confirm that funding for rounds 1 – 3 projects of the Levelling Up Fund have been confirmed.

The Autumn Budget 2024 confirmed that the government is minded to withdraw the funding for culture projects announced at Spring Budget 2024, which includes allocations to Dunfermline, Perth and the Victoria and Albert Museum Dundee levelling up culture projects. The consultation process with potential recipients is underway.

As set out at Autumn Budget, the Long-Term Plan for Towns will be retained and reformed, as part of a new regeneration programme.

The 75 places across the UK, including 10 in Scotland, that were previously selected to receive funding under the Long-Term Plan for Towns will receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade.

The UK Government is currently engaging with the Scottish Government and considering their proposal. We will keep Parliament informed of any developments.