CONTRACEPTIVES (REGULATION). (Hansard, 30 March 1938)

§ Mr. R. J. Russell

I beg to move, That leave be given to bring in a Bill to regulate the public display in shops of contraceptives and matter descriptive thereof, 2008 to prohibit street trading in such articles, and to restrict the public advertisement thereof. This Bill has been in the hands of Members during the last day or two, but I realise that Members are so flooded with requests to digest one document and another in these days that it is hardly likely that every Member has had time carefully to study this Bill. So in the very short time available I shall try to enumerate what are the proposals of the Bill. First of all I think all hon. Members must be aware of the development which has taken place throughout the country, and very largely in Metropolitan areas, of publicity with regard to contraceptives and their display and sale. I suppose that if anyone wants to secure contraceptives the direct way to do it is to go to a chemist's shop and ask for what you want and you will be supplied. In inquiring how many chemists supplied these articles I found that of 280 shops only seven did not stock and distribute contraceptives. In addition to this business, there has grown up a very large number of shops which deal in contraceptives only, and deal in them in such a way as to become an offence to a very large portion of the population. In one district alone I found there were 36 of these stores, apart from the chemists' shops.

The general appearance of these shops is well known. If you look into their windows you find certain literature and pictures which are liable to inflame desire, and joined thereto there will be other literature which will tell you how to satisfy desire without risk, and there is offered for sale all the necessary materials and products that are required. In addition to that, there is growing up throughout the country the custom of buying these things through slot machines. Outside chemists' shops, outside factories and other places, men in passing to and from their work can get all they want from these slot machines. Furthermore, there are to be found in factories and workshops touts pushing these articles and giving all the information that may be necessary for their use.

That is very largely the position which is to be found in our larger centres of population. But I am sorry to say that the country districts are now becoming infiltrated with the same thing, and in almost every village there is to be found someone acting as a tout for the display 2009 and the sale of these articles. It is for the purpose of stopping undue display that this Bill is presented. Let me give one illustration of what I mean. A young boy was going along a country lane in a very remote district of this country. As he went along a motor car drew up by his side. He was handed a small packet, and in that packet there was everything that was required for the purpose which was described therein, and in addition there were complete instructions and complete information as to where he could get supplies. It seems to me that that state of affairs ought not to exist in this country.

In another part of the Bill we limit the age for notification and sale to individuals. The limit is 18 years. That is to say, if a dealer should attempt to send these things or information about them to unmarried persons under 18, he would be guilty of an offence. But there is nothing in the Bill which will stop the sale of contraceptives to those who need them, either by chemists or other stores conducted in a proper manner. Let me conclude with an indication of the sort of thing that goes on at the present time. Some four or five years ago I was in a certain country village. I got the impression that the place could do with a clean up. I saw the vicar and told him of my impression. He said, "You as a visitor can see on the surface things which I am sorry to say are all too true in our village life, and if you knew the conditions which prevail in this village you would be more concerned still." The outcome of that conversation was that, first of all, we agitated and got a new water supply, so that every house could be properly cleansed. Secondly, we got a new sanitation system. Thirdly, we renovated the houses in that village. My point is this: We desire as a people that we shall be virile and healthy. We take what action we think is necessary in social reforms, but side by side with that it is essential that we should safeguard our young people against undue influences about things which are neither healthy nor socially sound.

§ Mr. Thurtle

I wish to oppose the Motion, partly on libertarian grounds and partly because I believe that a private Member is not the right person to bring in such legislation. I do not know how extensive this evil may be, but if it is a real evil, it is one that ought to be dealt 2010 with by the Department concerned, which is the Home Office. It is not the business of a private Member to take away the existing rights of private citizens, without possessing the necessary information, and such information must be in the Home Office. We have to remember that the practice of birth control in this country, whether we like it or not, is very widespread, and while no one wishes to see advertisements regarding birth control put out in an offensive manner, or what is called contraceptive equipment exposed in an offensive manner, at the same time we must recognise that this is lawful information for the men and women of the country, and we ought not to make it unduly difficult for them to get that information and the necessary equipment.

It seems to me that the people who complain in this way of the birth control advertisements and the exposure of birth control equipment are people who are really looking for trouble. They go out of their way to read these advertisements; they go out of their way to peer into the shops where these things are exposed to sale. If they do not want to read these advertisements, if they do not want to see these objectionable things, they need not look at them. Let me reinforce my argument with a short story. I once heard of a lady who objected because the gentleman who was living in the room opposite her in the street was alleged to undress without proper discretion. She complained to the police of this practice and a policeman went to her house to investigate the complaint. She said to him, "I will demonstrate the sort of exhibition to which I am subjected," and she took him up into her room. He looked across the road and eventually said, "I cannot see anything objectionable." She replied, "No, but if you get on the chair you will." It does seem to me that those who object to these advertisements and the exposure of this equipment are in very much the same position. I beg the House not to allow a private Member to undertake the promotion of legislation of this kind. If there is a case for it, for dealing with really offensive advertisements or offensive exposure of goods, I would certainly support such legislation, but I contend that the Home Office is the proper Department to sponsor such legislation.