HC Deb 13 November 1952 vol 507 cc1114-5
36. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value and number of stilettos imported from Italy during the past year for retail distribution in the United Kingdom.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I regret that this information is not available. Imports of stilettos are not recorded separately in the official trade statistics.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the President aware that large quantities of these lethal weapons have been sold up and down the country, and is it not sheer madness, or stupidity, or both, to allow these imports to continue at a time when the public is really concerned about crimes of violence and about coshes, an example of which has been brought into the House by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers)?

Mr. H. Hynd

On a point of order. Is it in order, Sir, for an hon. Member to bring an offensive weapon into the House.

Mr. Speaker

It is not in order to bring weapons into the House. [HON. MEMBERS: "Take it out."] I could not see from this distance whether it was a real one or a sham one, but if it is a real weapon it ought to be taken out immediately.

Sir W. Smithers

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker, may I ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will stop the sale of these articles—[HON. MEMBERS: "Take it out."]—because, if they are not allowed in the House, why should they be allowed in the home?

Mr. Speaker

That is not a question for me. What I have to do is to maintain the rules of order which prohibit the bringing of weapons into the House. I must ask the hon. Member to take it out immediately.

Sir W. Smithers

It is a sham, but by filling it with sand it can be made into a lethal weapon.

Mr. Thorneycroft

These articles are imported under a general quota which really covers stationery, and questions with regard to lethal weapons are not, of course, a matter for me but for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Would it be in order if I reported the answer which I have just had from the President of the Board of Trade to the Home Secretary, so that he can take appropriate action?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. and gallant Member must use his own discretion as to that.