SEX SHOPS (Hansard, 12 February 1982)

§ Mr. Tim Eggar (Enfield, North)
With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I have great pleasure in placing before the House a petition organised by Mr. and Mrs. Suit, who are constituents of mine. They have acted on behalf of the Enfield Community Standards Association. Given the comments made by many hon. Members, the House will be aware that there is great concern throughout the country about the proposals of Conegate Ltd to open sex shops in different parts of London and the Home Counties.
The petitioners pray that
Your Honourable House will take action to ensure that—

1. Local authorities be immediately given planning powers over sex shops and shops selling pornography.

2. The legislation which now allows obscene material to be widely distributed be tightened.

3. Effective legislation to prohibit the publication and sale of pornography be instituted without delay.

The petitioners are grateful to the Government for the action that they have taken, at least in regard to the first request.

§ Mr. Harry Greenway (Ealing, North)
With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I beg 1214 leave to present a petition from the people of St. Benedict's Abbey, Ealing. The petition is addressed to the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir George Young), and to me and I present it on behalf of us both.
As voters and parishioners of St. Benedict's Abbey, Ealing, they wish to impress upon Her Majesty's Government their sorrow and anger at the denial of human rights to the people of Poland and to urge Her Majesty's Government to use all possible influence to bring back good order to Poland, to end martial law and to restore proper political, diplomatic and commercial activity to ensure the eventual freedom of the people of Poland.
Many expatriate Poles live in Ealing and they are deeply affected by events in Poland and profoundly offended by them. In addition, the entire community of Ealing, and the British People as a whole, share their concern that all food and medical aid possible should be sent to Poland via the Roman Catholic Church. They wish to see an end to martial law and they want those kept in inhuman conditions to be free to live their lives normally. We hope that that country will be restored to its former greatness among the nations of the world. Traditionally, Poland has had great freedom. I am a sponsor of the British solidarity with Poland movement and I—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman must not make a speech, but present a petition.

§ Mr. Greenway
I understood, Mr. Speaker, that I could make a few remarks—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman must put forward a petition and not give us his own views.

§ Mr. Greenway
I present a petition that has been signed by 1,224 people.
The petitioners pray that
Your Honourable House will use every opportunity, political, diplomatic and commercial to ensure the eventual securing of political freedom for the Polish people.