HC Deb 12 May 1971 vol 817 cc379-80
58. Mr. Roy Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request the Younger Committee to expedite the preparation of its report on privacy in view of public concern about unsolicited pornographic literature being sent through the post.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Mark Carlisle)

No, Sir. As stated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger) on 29th October—[Vol. 805, c. 170]—the Committee hopes to be able to report by the end of this year.

Mr. Hughes

I thank the hon. and learned Gentleman for that Answer. I understand that this report will also deal with the question of pornographic literature being sent through the post, and that is why I asked for it to be expedited. Does the hon. Gentleman agree, as I asked his right hon. and learned Friend in connection with the last Question, that urgent action requires to be taken in this matter?

Mr. Carlisle

The hon. Gentleman is right. The terms of reference of the Younger Committee on privacy certainly cover the question of unsolicited literature being sent through the post. It is felt, however, that it would be wrong to ask the Committee to make an interim report because it is hoped that it will be reporting by the end of the year.

Mr. Fry

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that one way to deter people from sending these unfortunate and distasteful missives through the post would be for the recipients to return the envelopes unstamped with nothing inside them, so forcing these people, at considerable expense, to receive nothing?

Mr. Carlisle

That is a matter which I must leave to individuals. I cannot comment on the success or otherwise of such a project.

Sir Elwyn Jones

Is it not a fact that there was recently a successful prosecution in the Old Bailey in respect of unsolicited pornographic literature? Is it not the case, therefore, that there are still some weapons in the armoury of the law in regard to this matter?

Mr. Carlisle

That is so. As the right hon. and learned Gentleman says, a successful prosecution was brought. It was brought under the Post Office Act, 1953. The sending of anything indecent through the post is covered by that Act. The successful prosecution was against the advertisement of the book "A History of the Mouth and Oral Sex", which shows that the law has some teeth in this matter.