HC Deb 03 May 1956 vol 552 c588
39. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence was received by or what bodies were recalled since 30th August, 1955, to give evidence before the Departmental Committee on Homosexuality and Prostitution on brothels and profit-making out of the exploitation of prostitution.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Weigh Affairs (Major Gwilym Lloyd-George)

I understand that no bodies or individuals have submitted to the Committee since 30th August evidence directed exclusively to the matters mentioned in the Question. Some witnesses who have given evidence relating to prostitution in general have naturally touched on these matters in the course of their evidence, but as the Committee is meeting in private it would not be appropriate to disclose the nature of the evidence given by particular witnesses.

Mr. Stokes

Does the Home Secretary mean that no written evidence has been received since that date? Can he say how soon he expects the oral evidence to be completed and the Report issued?

Major Lloyd-George

I really could not give the date when the Report will be issued, but the secretary of the Committee made it clear last July that no more written evidence would be received after 31st August. Certain oral evidence, particularly where it had not been given in the first instance, will be called for again, but I could not say the date.