§ 29. Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he propose; to introduce legislation to 587 implement the Wolfenden recommendations on homosexuality when practised between consenting parties and in private.
§ Mr. BrookeI have no present plans for legislation.
§ Sir T. MooreWill my right hon. Friend recall the case of a young man of 25 and about to be married who was accused of having committed one act of indecency 10 years earlier when he was about 16 and as a result he lost his job and lost his bride? Surely something must be done to prevent this sort of thing happening again.
§ Mr. BrookeThis is a very important matter but it is essentially a matter in which the Government must take account of the climate of public and Parliamentary opinion. My hon. Friend will remember that a Motion calling for the implementation of the Wolfenden Committee's recommendations was heavily defeated on a free vote in the House in 1960. I have no evidence that there has been a material change in the balance of opinions since then.