HC Deb 12 March 1936 vol 309 cc2293-4
25. Viscountess ASTOR

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that the sections of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885, dealing with procuration of women for immoral purposes by third parties, specially excludes common prossitutes and women of known immoral character from protection against procuration, and even excludes them from protection against being procured by false pretences on false representations; and, having regard to the fact that all traffic in women is mainly a traffic in women of immoral character and that exclusion of such women from the operation of the English law against procuration tacitly permits traffic in them, will be undertake to amend the law so that all third-party procuration of women for immoral purposes shall be a punishable offence?

Sir J. SIMON

I am aware of the criticism which has been directed to the provisions of the Criminal Law Amend- ment Act, 1885, that it does not extend to common prostitutes and women of known immoral character the same measure of protection that is afforded to women and girls generally; but if the Noble Lady will examine Sections 2 and 3 of that Act, she will find that it is not accurate to say that women who are common prostitutes, or who are of known immoral character, are excluded from any protection against procuration. The question whether any amendment of the law is required is under consideration, and the points raised by the Noble Lady will be borne in mind.

Viscountess ASTOR

I thank the right lion. Gentleman very much for his answer. Would he bear in mind the change of opinion since this Act was passed, and that now the State demands the same protection for immoral women as it gives to immoral men?

Sir J. SIMON

Yes, that will certainly be borne in mind.