§ 2. Commander Keransasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to prevent the import from Japan of shotguns and air pistols.
§ The Minister of State, Board of Trade (Sir Keith Joseph)Shotguns and air pistols may be imported without restriction from all sources outside the Eastern area and there are no grounds for preventing imports from Japan.
§ Commander KeransDo we really need to import weapons from Japan, bearing in mind the very high increase in juvenile delinquency in this country at the moment? Is it really necessary to import these weapons, especially when some of them are not up to the standard of those manufactured in this country at the moment?
§ Sir K. JosephI do not wish to quibble with my hon. and gallant Friend, but these are not weapons in the sense of needing a firearms certificate, and any question of safety would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. Our mutual trade is benefiting from the progressive liberalisation of trade between Japan and this country.