§ Mr. Dainesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that coshes and similar weapons are still available for sale to children; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeThe problem of the sale of toy weapons to children is, in the view of Her Majesty's Government, best left to the good sense of traders and parents. As far as I am aware, there is no widespread sale of the kind of toys referred to by the hon. Member, and I believe that traders in general have followed the advice given to them last November in statements made by the National Chamber of Trade and the National Association of Toy Retailers. The texts of the statements were given in my reply to a Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Shields (Mr. Ede) on 19th December last. It is in any event for parents to decide what toys are suitable for their children, and I do not contemplate any action in the matter.