Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment No. 2) Order 2008

In the tragic environment in which we live, with its large incidence of knife crime, committed so often with short blades from the kitchen drawer, we might be forgiven for feeling that we were taking part in a fringe performance. However, we must support the Government in seeking to apply common sense to specialised uses which would otherwise be caught by the legislation. I congratulate the Minister and his colleagues on listening to the various representations. I join my noble friend Lady Hanham in thanking him for that. There are two specialised uses on which my honourable friend James Brokenshire did not get a totally satisfactory answer. I refer to historical re-enactment groups and martial arts. Is there a defence for both of those? Otherwise, we support the order.