§ 2.48 p.m.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government—
- (1) how many women have been convicted of offences under the Street Offences Act;
- (2) in how many such cases sentences of imprisonment have been imposed; and
- (3) what is the length of any sentences of imprisonment imposed.]
EARL BATHURSTMy Lords, between August 16 and December 31, 1959, there were 889 convictions of offences under Section 1 (1) of the Street Offences Act; that is, one-tenth of the number for the same period in 1958. In 63 cases, sentences of imprisonment were imposed, of which 27 were for periods of one month or less; 19 for periods of more than one month but not more than two months, and 17 for periods of more than two and up to three months.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his Answer, and congratulating him on the skill with which he has emptied the streets without filling the gaols, I should like to ask whether he is aware that young girls are now employed to stand in the street outside clubs and cafés frequented by prostitutes in order to invite custom to these places, and whether Her Majesty's Government propose to introduce similar legislation to deal with this second-hand form of prostitution?
EARL BATHURSTMy Lords, I do not think the supplementary of the noble Lady is really to do with the first Question she asked, but I am quite sure that my right honourable friend also has access to the Sunday newspapers.
§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERMy Lords, might I ask the noble Earl whether he would explore other sources of information, besides the Sunday newspapers, by which he might be better informed?