§ 68. Mr. LYNCHasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is an offence to sell appliances favouring what is called race suicide; and, if so, why the police authorities have failed to prosecute in the numerous cases where these appliances are openly advertised and sold in shops in London; whether the sale of these articles is an offence only when associated with the expression of heterodox opinion; and whether he contemplates introducing a Bill to render devout people who sell these articles also liable to penalties?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)There has not been an authoritative decision of the Courts on this question, but I am advised that the sale of such articles is not in itself illegal, though the circumstances in which the goods were sold or offered for sale might be such as to make the proceeding unlawful. The religious beliefs of the seller would, of course, have no bearing on the question.