§ 16. Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under the Obscene Publications Act, 1959, since it became law.
§ Mr. VosperEighty, Sir.
§ Mr. CordleIn view of the spate of undesirable, salacious literature, why have not more prosecutions been instituted? Does it arise from defects in the Act?
§ Mr. VosperIt is not, of course, for my right hon. Friend to initiate prosecutions. I should have thought that 80 was a considerable number. Perhaps I should add that they do not include forfeitures under Section 3 of the Act, of which there were 53. The Act has been on the Statute Book only 17 months, and I should have thought it a little early to suggest that there were defects in it.