THE EARL OF ARRANMy 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 whether they will pronounce in favour of a safe and proved contraceptive pill for men and, within their limited financial capacities, encourage the production of such a device.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (BARONESS SEROTA)My Lords, a safe and proved oral contraceptive pill for men would no doubt be of value; but I am advised that substantial difficulties would have to be overcome before it could be developed. The Government do not feel justified in allocating public money towards research and development for this purpose, which would probably be very costly.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, would the noble Baroness not agree that in view of the recent appalling increases in the number of abortions any measure which would tend to reduce the human suffering caused by this traumatic experience, particularly in young girls, should be eagerly sought?
§ BARONESS SEROTAYes, my Lords; but noble Lords will already be aware that there are a number of mechanical contraceptives for men and women, and oral contraceptives for women, with a high degree of reliability. Whether the introduction of a new method of contraception of the kind that the noble Lord has in mind would substantially affect the number of abortions is a matter which it is difficult to assess.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, would my noble friend not take too much notice of these "do-gooders" who take all the fun out of life?
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, in view of the very many husbands who encourage their wives to take that dangerous medicament known as "the pill", is it not in the interests of the whole of the family that both husband and wife should share the health hazards of a chemical contraceptive?
§ BARONESS SEROTAMy Lords, I know only too well the views of the noble Baroness on this subject and her personal views about the risks to women who use contraceptives. I think we should be going a lot beyond the subject of the original Question if we were to continue the debate further.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, may I ask Her Majesty's Government whether they share my feeling in thinking that this is not a question of taking the fun out of life but of human suffering, of unhappiness, of misery—