After section 32 of the Firearms Act 1968 (fee for certificate and exemption from paying it in certain cases) insert—

“32ZAFees in connection with authority under section 5

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations authorise the appropriate national authority to require payment of a fee before an authority under section 5 is granted, varied or renewed.

(2)

Regulations under subsection (1) must specify the amount of any fee that may be charged.

(3)

The regulations may make different provision for different cases (including specifying different fees for different cases).

(4)

The regulations may include—

(a)

incidental, supplementary or consequential provision;

(b)

transitional, transitory or saving provision.

(5)

Regulations under this section are to be made by statutory instrument.

(6)

A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(7)

In this section, “the appropriate national authority” means—

(a)

in or as regards England and Wales, the Secretary of State;

(b)

in or as regards Scotland, the Scottish Ministers.”

Before section 16 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988 insert—

“15BFees in connection with approvals under section 15

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations authorise the appropriate national authority to require payment of a fee before an approval under section 15 is granted, varied or renewed.

(2)

Regulations under subsection (1) must specify the amount of any fee that may be charged.

(3)

The regulations may make different provision for different cases (including specifying different fees for different cases).

(4)

The regulations may include—

(a)

incidental, supplementary or consequential provision;

(b)

transitional, transitory or saving provision.

(5)

Regulations under this section are to be made by statutory instrument.

(6)

A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(7)

In this section, “the appropriate national authority” means—

(a)

in or as regards England and Wales, the Secretary of State;

(b)

in or as regards Scotland, the Scottish Ministers.”

In that Schedule, before paragraph 4 insert—

“3A

(1)

The Secretary of State may by regulations authorise the appropriate national authority to require payment of a fee before a licence is granted, varied or renewed.

(2)

Regulations under sub-paragraph (1) must specify the amount of any fee that may be charged.

(3)

The regulations may make different provision for different cases (including specifying different fees for different cases).

(4)

The regulations may include—

(a)

incidental, supplementary or consequential provision;

(b)

transitional, transitory or saving provision.

(5)

Regulations under this paragraph are to be made by statutory instrument.

(6)

A statutory instrument containing regulations under this paragraph is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(7)

In this section, “the appropriate national authority” means—

(a)

in or as regards England and Wales, the Secretary of State;

(b)

in or as regards Scotland, the Scottish Ministers.”