§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ 5.55 p.m.
§ Sir Eric Errington (Aldershot)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
This Bill, which passed through another place in a comparatively short time, is uncontroversial, short and important. It amends Section 5 of the Indecent Advertisements Act, 1889, which, to say the least, was passed some time ago. That Section reads:
Any advertisement relating to any venereal disease shall be deemed to be printed or written matter of an indecent nature, if the advertisement is affixed to or inscribed on any house, building, wall, hoarding, gate, fence, pillar, post, board, tree, or any other thing whatsoever, so as to be visible to a person being in or passing along any street, public highway or footpath, or is affixed to or inscribed on any public urinal or is delivered or attempted to be delivered to any person being in or passing along any street, public highway or footpath.The effect of this enactment is to put at risk any local authority or public body such, for example, as the Health Education Council, a body which was sponsored by the Government and established in 1968, if it seeks to advise and advertise the treatment of venereal disease. There is the necessity at present to put in a cautionary note such as the Health Edu- 2108 cation Council, is compelled to place in its publication on the various types of venereal disease and their cure, which reads as follows:Caution. If this leaflet is displayed where it would be visible to someone passing along a street, public highway, or footpath, or if it is handed to anyone in these places, there is a risk of prosecution under Section 5 of the Indecent Advertisements Act, 1889.This, I am advised, has a gravely limiting effect in these days when much improved methods of cure of venereal disease are available. This is a matter of considerable concern.The only object of the Bill is to add a proviso to Section 5 of the 1889 Act saying that advertisements relating to venereal disease are not deemed to be indecent if they are published for a local or public authority or otherwise with the approval of the Secretary of State. So the position, if this Bill goes through, will be that a local or public authority will have the opportunity without any risk of prosecution to publish intimations as to venereal disease and its cure with the approval of the Secretary of State so that the exemption proposed by the Bill should be used.
§ Question put and agreed to
§ Bill accordingly read a Second time.
§ Bill committed to a Committee a the whole House.—[Mr. Concannon]
§ Bill immediately considered in Committee; reported, without Amendment
§ Motion made, and Question, That the Bill be now read the Third time,put forwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 55 (Third Reading), and agreed to
§ Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed, without Amendment.