HC Deb 02 July 1888 vol 328 c75
MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

asked Mr. Attorney General, Whether his attention has been called to a recent Act of the Parliament of Victoria, which provides— Words spoken and published of any woman imputing to her a want of chastity shall be, and shall be deemed to be, slander, and an action shall be sustainable for such words in the same manner, and to the same extent, as for words charging an indictable offence; and, whether he is prepared to take steps to amend the Law of England in a similar sense?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)

My attention has not been called to the Act in question. It is a matter for consideration whether it is desirable to amend the Law of England in a similar sense; but I am not prepared at present to introduce a Bill with that object.