Our work to tackle knife crime is centred on four key strands: working with the police on operations and enforcement; work on the legislative framework; to work with retailers on responsible sales of knives; and early intervention and prevention.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are encouraging police forces to undertake a series of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife crime under Operation Sceptre. It includes targeted stop and searches, weapon sweeps, test purchases of knives from retailers, the use of surrender bins, and educational activities. A record thirty-two police forces took part in the week of action in July.<\/p>
<\/p>
We have agreed a set of commitments with major retailers to prevent the underage sales of knives in their stores and online. The agreement also covers staff training and displays and packaging.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are keeping the legislative framework under review and we have taken action to ban zombie knives in August 2016. In addition on 14 October we launched a consultation on new legislation on offensive weapons. The proposals include placing restrictions on the online sale of knives, creating a new offence of possession of an offensive or dangerous weapon in a private place, and updating existing legislation. We have launched a community fund to support local communities to tackle knife crime.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are also supporting youth violence intervention and prevention work in hospital emergency departments including supporting the voluntary sector organisation, Redthread, undertake work in London hospitals and pilots its approach shortly in Nottingham and Birmingham.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Victoria Atkins"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Louth and Horncastle"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Victoria Atkins"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-08T12:25:21.243Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-12-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Knives: Crime"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce knife crime", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/206", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Lammy"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tottenham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr David Lammy"} ], "uin" : "116909"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797629", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797629/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government is considering the issues raised by Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices which includes employment rights and zero hour contracts, as well as atypical work more generally. Matthew Taylor\u2019s report is comprehensive and detailed and we have been giving the report the careful consideration it deserves and will respond in full shortly.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-04T15:55:05.083Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Zero Hours Contracts: Unfair Dismissal"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to extend the employment rights of workers on zero hour contracts to cover unfair dismissal.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4243", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dan Jarvis"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Barnsley Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dan Jarvis"} ], "uin" : "116592"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797776", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797776/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The opportunity to pilot voter ID in May 2018 was offered to all local authorities in Great Britain and we are pleased that Woking, Gosport, Bromley, Swindon and Watford have committed to do so. In addition, Tower Hamlets will be piloting measures to improve the integrity of the postal and proxy vote processes respectively.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4021", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Skidmore"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingswood"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Chris Skidmore"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-06T16:59:32.99Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Elections"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2017 to Question 2214, which local authorities will participate in the proof of identity pilot for the May 2018 local elections.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/534", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Ruane"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Vale of Clwyd"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Ruane"} ], "uin" : "116684"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797778", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797778/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry has met with the Food and Drink Federation at a joint-Ministerial roundtable where the issue of waste was discussed.<\/p>
<\/p>
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the 2017 Autumn Budget that there will be a call for evidence on single-use plastics that will begin in the New Year that will also take into account the findings of the consultation on drinks containers. We fully expect the retail sector to respond to this.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4115", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margot James"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stourbridge"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Margot James"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-08T14:33:11.903Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "201"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Packaging: Recycling"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) representatives of the retail sector on to encourage supermarkets to make more of their packaging recyclable; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4645", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emma Hardy"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emma Hardy"} ], "uin" : "116686"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797780", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797780/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bWe have raised this issue with the Bahraini authorities. We continue to encourage Bahrain to live up to its international and domestic human rights obligations.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-08T13:15:27.267Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bahrain: Trials"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterparts in the Bahraini Government on fairness of the first trial of civilians in secret military courts in Bahrain in October 2017 .", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/151", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Brake"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Carshalton and Wallington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Brake"} ], "uin" : "116688"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797783", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797783/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government consulted on a range of options for limiting the contribution from crop based biofuels towards the renewable fuel target for transport, from zero to the maximum seven per cent allowed under EU Directive 2015/1513. The consultation and the Government response are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-transport-fuel-obligations-order-government-response<\/a> and include analysis of the costs and benefits of the proposals, including the impacts on the competitiveness of UK industry through an estimate of the gross value added to the UK economy by the biofuels industry under the proposed amendments.<\/p> <\/p> We intend to cap the contribution from crop-based biofuels at four per cent in 2018, reducing to three per cent in 2026 and two per cent in 2032. Reducing the contribution from crop-based biofuels in this way will signal that we want to see future investment focus on the most sustainable fuels made from wastes and residues, while ensuring a continuing market for the UK\u2019s existing bioethanol producers. According to research published by the European Commission in 2015, titled \u201cThe land use change impact of biofuels consumed in the EU, Quantification of area and greenhouse gas impacts\u201d, crop biofuel usage at 7% of transport energy could result in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p> <\/p> Subject to Parliamentary approval, the legislation providing for these changes to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) will provide for a review to ensure the policy aims are being met. If required after the review further amendments could then be proposed.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "116692"}
, {"_value" : "116693"}
, {"_value" : "116694"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-08T10:40:18.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Biofuels"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's consultation on Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, published in September 2017, for what reasons the cap on bio-fuels will be reduced from 4 per cent to 2 per cent.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4645", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emma Hardy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emma Hardy"}
], "uin" : "116691"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797784", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797784/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government consulted on a range of options for limiting the contribution from crop based biofuels towards the renewable fuel target for transport, from zero to the maximum seven per cent allowed under EU Directive 2015/1513. The consultation and the Government response are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-transport-fuel-obligations-order-government-response<\/a> and include analysis of the costs and benefits of the proposals, including the impacts on the competitiveness of UK industry through an estimate of the gross value added to the UK economy by the biofuels industry under the proposed amendments.<\/p> <\/p> We intend to cap the contribution from crop-based biofuels at four per cent in 2018, reducing to three per cent in 2026 and two per cent in 2032. Reducing the contribution from crop-based biofuels in this way will signal that we want to see future investment focus on the most sustainable fuels made from wastes and residues, while ensuring a continuing market for the UK\u2019s existing bioethanol producers. According to research published by the European Commission in 2015, titled \u201cThe land use change impact of biofuels consumed in the EU, Quantification of area and greenhouse gas impacts\u201d, crop biofuel usage at 7% of transport energy could result in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p> <\/p> Subject to Parliamentary approval, the legislation providing for these changes to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) will provide for a review to ensure the policy aims are being met. If required after the review further amendments could then be proposed.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-12-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "116691"}
, {"_value" : "116693"}
, {"_value" : "116694"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-12-08T10:40:18.507Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-11-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Biofuels"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's consultation on Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, published in September 2017, what comparative assessment he has made of the competitiveness of 2 per cent crop cap in the UK with a 7 per cent crop cap in EU countries.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4645", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Emma Hardy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Emma Hardy"}
], "uin" : "116692"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797785", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/797785/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "