§ 11. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide penalties against individuals claiming to practise witchcraft.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesNo, Sir.
§ Mr. RobertsWill my hon. Friend accept that I appreciate the difficulties in introducing twentieth century laws against this type of medieval nonsense? Would he also accept that there are some dangers associated with this subject in terms of drugs, blackmail and even the gullibility of some sections of the general public? Would he use his famous ridicule and wit like many Welsh wizards of the past in this House to pour parliamentary scorn on the whole of this rubbish?
§ Mr. ReesI think witchcraft and wizardry are two separate examples of the arts. The legislation in 1951 deals with this matter, but I agree that in view of the stuff one has read recently perhaps my hon. Friend ought to be looking at the laws on indecency and the common law on conspiracy to corrupt rather than to the sort of legislation to which he refers.
§ Mr. FryIs the Minister's unwillingness to legislate due to the fact that lie feels this might be made to apply to those people who prepared the Labour Party's election manifesto?
§ Mr. ReesI think the hon. Gentleman has been reading the material from the other side of the square.