§ 36. Mr. Jannerasked the President of the Board of Trade what evidence he has that young people within school ages have occasion to use flick knives for employment or industrial purposes; whether he is aware that a boy aged 13 years recently 222 pressed a flick knife against the clothing of another boy near the region of his heart, and stabbed a 13-year-old girl in Leicester; and whether he will now prevent the importation of these knives
§ Mr. ErrollWe have no such evidence. The answer to the other parts of the Question is in each case "No, Sir."
§ Mr. JannerIf the Board has no such evidence, why are not steps taken to prevent these knives getting into the hands of youngsters? Is not the President of the Board of Trade yet aware that there is concern about this? The Leicester Mercury, which has made a careful and close study of the matter, and other papers indicate that there is this grave concern. If the President of the Board of Trade has advised the trade not to sell them, there must be some reason. Does he propose to allow further assaults and perhaps murders to be committed with those instruments without doing something?
§ Mr. ErrollMy right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has already said in the House that traders have responded well to the appeals to confine the sale of flick knives to persons known to have a legitimate use for them.