HC Deb 25 July 1927 vol 209 cc825-6
18. Sir ROBERT NEWMAN

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been taken to give effect to the recommendation of the Colonial Office Advisory Committee on Social Hygiene, in their First Report issued in 1925, that the Government of the Straits Settlements should at the earliest practicable date suppress all brothels whenever their existence is discovered?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

I have no recent Report bearing on this particular part of the Committee's recommendations, but the whole problem is receiving the constant and careful attention of the local Government in the light of the Committee's Report. I would remind my hon. Friend that the Committee recognised that it could not fix a limit to the time which would be required for the suppression of all known brothels.

20. Mr. CECIL WILSON

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will consider the calling together of the Colonial Office Advisory Committee on Social Hygiene, with a request that a Report should be prepared and issued upon methods of dealing with prostitution in Hong Kong, the Federated Malay States, Malta, and Cyprus?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

The question of the reconstitution of a Committee to advise me on this subject is now under consideration, but pending a decision as to this I can give no undertaking as to whether it will be possible to deal with the problems arising in all the Dependencies referred to in the question.