Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by David Davis (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 19 June 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Knives

Question: I will resist the temptation to talk about Zimbabwe. Given what has been said in questions from both sides of the House, and given that the Home Secretary himself said that he is considering extending the penalty for carrying knives, why did his own Government oppose this exact proposal from the Opposition in November of last year?

Answer: The hon. Gentleman is asking me the same question—[Hon. Members: ““Right hon.””] I beg his pardon. The right hon. Gentleman is asking me the same question, through a slightly different prism, that he asked a fortnight ago—that is, how I could vote on something with the Government a few months ago. I think that he has served in government, and he will know that there was a different Secretary of State then. [Interruption.] Just as I, as Secretary of State for Defence, made different judgments from those that the current incumbent will make on some matters— the nature of Cabinet Government is collective responsibility—so I have now reached a new position. I have considered what has been said and, rather than being completely focused on the process whereby we reach decisions—which is a legitimate subject—I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will also be interested in their substance. I am prepared to consider extending the sentence in one of the examples—indeed, I will go further and invite him to discuss the matter with me. I hope that that process will not upset him unduly.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 447 c1055
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Offensive weapons Crime Crimes of violence Amnesties Enforcement Homicide
Legislation: Violent Crime Reduction Bill 2005-06
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk