Brothels

HC Deb 12 December 1968 vol 775 cc554-5

11. Mr. Gurden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to legalise brothels.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

No, Sir.

Mr. Gurden

Is the Minister aware that I thoroughly agree with him and hope that that does not come about; but the fact remains that something must be done in the Midlands to help the situation, which has got very bad indeed?

Mr. Morgan

I do not think there is anything very much I could say which would help the situation.

Mr. Hogg

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this whole question was investigated most carefully before the war by a committee of the League of Nations and the suggestion was definitely exploded and turned down?

Mr. Morgan

Yes, Sir, and it has been studied since by the Wolfenden Committee. I am sure the House will be interested to note that only two European countries at the moment have a system of tolerance in this connection. Of the countries of the world, 19 have a system of tolerance against 119 which have a system of total abolition.