I am all for that, and I am sure that we all are. But we must be careful not to legislate against the legitimate use of the knife by the 99 per cent. Nor must we put the shopkeeper into a difficult situation whereby he finds it almost impossible to decide whether he should sell a knife because, if he sells it to the wrong person, he could be prosecuted. I ask that my noble friend gives an assurance that somehow the knives to which I refer will become prescribed articles. How the Minister will do that, I am not certain.
Knives are a difficult subject.
In the right hands they are perfectly safe, but in the wrong hands they are lethal. I am concerned that if we are not careful with this Bill we will create a monster that is impossible to police. Column 973 7.25 p.m. But noble Lords will be relieved to hear that I do not intend to become heavily involved in the debates, though I thought it appropriate to say a few words at Second Reading. This morning I rang the Government Whip's Office and said that I should like to speak to the Bill.