§ Mr. Patrick Cormack (Staffordshire, South)I beg leave to present to the House a petition that has been signed by some 2,000 of my constituents who are exceedingly concerned about the implications of recent decisions regarding the administering of contraceptive devices to girls under the age of 16. This matter has caused grave disquiet throughout the country. My constituents feel deeply on the subject and have asked that I present this petition, which concludes in the customary terms by saying that the petitioners pray
that the Honourable Members of the House of Commons should bear in mind, that according to Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by Society and the State." We ask that they should therefore urge the Home Secretary that he should recommend to the House that Parents must be given statutory rights to be consulted before any contraceptive drugs or devices be given to their daughters whilst they are under 16; thus enabling parents to take whatever actions they think necessary to protect their daughters from early and unlawful sexual relationships, and the criminal actions of the males involved.
§ To lie upon the Table