HC Deb 23 March 1972 vol 833 cc1663-4
18. Mr. Leslie Huckfield

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received for amendments in the law affecting confidentiality and privacy in gathering market research information.

Mr. Carlisle

None, Sir.

Mr. Leslie Huckfield

Is the Minister not aware that questions like: V.D. is a just punishment for illicit sex and If someone offered me pot I might try it". are all part of a questionnaire by Mary Agar Field Services on behalf of the supposedly respectable Leo Burnett London Press Exchange advertising agency? The survey offered a B.M.C. Mini as the prize. [Interruption.] One can in the automatic version. How does the Minister of State believe that this will help anyone to sell anything to anyone and is it not about time he introduced—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That is quite enough.

Mr. Carlisle

Obviously one would deplore any form of sales technique which seemed in any way to encourage young people to go in for drugs, which I gather is one of the matters the hon. Member mentioned. But the fact remains that we have had no complaints in the Home Office, and I am not quite sure whether it affects privacy.