To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has issued guidance on the granting of bail to a person charged with possessing a knife in a public place. (182742)

Whether to grant bail or not is and must remain a decision for the courts to make within the statutory framework provided by Parliament in the Bail Act 1976, taking account of relevant case-law. It is the responsibility of the Government to keep the statutory framework under careful review, bringing proposals for change to Parliament as necessary. We are currently looking at the implications for bail law and procedure of the recent cases involving the offence of murder. If changes are needed we shall make them.