HC Deb 09 February 1970 vol 795 cc909-10
47. Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to increase the public knowledge of, and use of, birth control facilities.

Dr. John Dunwoody

With our full support the Health Education Council is treating this as a priority task. My right hon. Friend has also asked local authorities to make local facilities known as widely as possible in their areas.

Mr. Fraser

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the knowledge of facilities is not coming to the notice of the people who need to use them? Will he consider even using television, and providing literature, for women and families that badly need birth control?

Dr. Dunwoody

I am not satisfied that the knowledge is as widely dispersed as possible, but many more people are now in possession of this knowledge. The Health Education Council, in consultation with the Family Planning Association, is preparing new publicity material giving information about birth control, designed to reach those most at risk.

Dr. Winstanley

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the way in which recent announcements were made by the Committee on the Safety of Drugs about the pill, far from spreading public knowledge on this question spread public confusion and alarm? Does he agree that if that Committee is to assume responsibility for informing the public about the danger or otherwise of drugs it should contain among its representatives, in addition to eminent professional people, people with experience in public relations and in this field of work?

Dr. Dunwoody

I suggest that a supplementary question about the Committee on Safety of Drugs goes rather wider than the original Question. An Answer has been given explaining the circumstances of that incident, which I and my right hon. Friend regret.

Mr. Snow

Would my hon. Friend bear in mind that it might be desirable to emphasise more in the publicity material that is issued the need for domiciliary family planning services?

Dr. Dunwoody

Certainly there is a need in exceptional circumstances for domiciliary services, and the cases for which this type of service is most appropriate are those which are not easily reached by orthodox publicity.

Mr. Fortescue

Would the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the advertising of birth control appliances on television would be highly offensive to a large number of people?

Dr. Dunwoody

There seems to be a changing climate of public opinion on this whole matter. I suggest that anything that makes knowledge and information available, as long as it is handled in a sensitive manner, is in the general interest as well as in the interests of the individual concerned.