§ 15. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ban the sale of toy guns and bullets, particulars of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Wood Green; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SharplesMy right hon. Friend is not convinced that any hazard presented by this particular toy is so serious as to justify such action.
§ Mrs. ButlerDoes the Minister of State realise that this was sent to him by a 1663 constituent, who feels—and I agree with her—that the small metal bullets supplied with the gun are extremely dangerous for any children to use particularly if one of them hit a child in the eye? Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that he has the facilities in this Department adequately to vet this type of toy, bearing in mind all the other responsibilities that his Department holds.
§ Mr. SharplesThe toy has been very fully vetted. It was tested at length by ballistics experts, who found that a pea fired from a normal pea-shooter had twice the velocity of a missile fired from this weapon.