HC Deb 28 July 1955 vol 544 cc1331-2
24. Mr. Janner

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to stop the import of knives and similar instruments which have devices such as spring clips attached to them where such devices can serve no purpose other than making the instrument speedily usable as a weapon.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

No, Sir.

Mr. Janner

Would the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration a statement that was made a few days ago by the learned Recorder of Leicester, when he said: I am just not going to have Leicester turned into a City of young gangsters. I shall have no mercy on young men who get hold of coshes, guns, axes or knives. In view of the fact that knives with these devices can be used for no other purpose than a vicious lethal one, will the right hon. Gentleman examine the position, see some of them, and then make up his mind whether he will allow them to come into the country?

Mr. Thorneycroft

As the Home Secretary explained at some length to the hon. Member, it would be quite impracticable to control the sale of these things in this country. In those circumstances, to apply an import control would be quite out of the question.

Mr. Janner

Will the right hon. Gentleman see these spring clips himself? If he decides that they have no other purpose at all—[Interruption.] This is a very serious matter. If he comes to the conclusion that they can serve no other purpose than making the knife readily usable for causing bodily harm, will he then decide whether he will allow them to come in or not?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Those were the very questions which the hon. Member addressed to the Home Secretary.