HC Deb 21 October 1954 vol 531 cc1379-80
50. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend the law relating to obscenity in literature.

Major Lloyd George

The hon. Member will appreciate that this is not an easy matter on which to legislate, but I propose to look into the problem as soon as possible.

Mr. Robinson

While thanking the Minister for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that there is widespread concern among the public about a law which permits magistrates to order the destruction of Boccaccio's "Decameron," which has circulated freely for 600 years, which brings reputable publishers into disrepute, and allows profiteers in pornography to escape scot free?

Major Lloyd George

On the whole, on this very difficult question, the law has operated fairly well, with occasional exceptions. There are one or two defects which certainly ought to be looked into and that is what I propose to do as soon as possible.

Mr. Turner-Samuels

Does not the Minister agree that the police force are under a very great handicap in this work? Is it not the case that before they can take any action at all they first have to buy a book which they suspect and then have to ask the magistrates for a search warrant; and by the time they come to search the shop the objectionable books have disappeared?

Major Lloyd George

I told the House that there were one or two defects in the law. That is probably one of them. There are, however, other aspects which concern authors and publishers as well, and that is why I think the matter should be looked into.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

Will the Home Secretary not agree that at the very least there is urgent need for clarification of the law here since it is impossible to escape the conclusion that decisions depend to an unusual and undesirable extent upon the views of the persons trying particular cases?