Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to publish its response to the public consultation on the draft statutory guidance on measures in the Offensive Weapons Act.

We intend to publish the statutory guidance on measures in the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 shortly, and in advance of these measures coming in to force later this year. Commencement of the Act was paused due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the measures put in place to keep people safe, and to avoid placing significant additional burdens on the courts, police, retailers and delivery companies at a difficult time.

With the easing of lockdown restrictions we are now able to take forward the action necessary to allow for commencement later this year.