§ Mr. Parkinasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give instructions that in metropolitan areas such as Paddington where leases with periods to run are frequently sold in the open market, and where there are reasonable grounds to suppose from observation that such premises have been converted for use for prostitution, special investigations shall be made by the police to discover whether they are being leased or let on conditions which enable a prosecution to be initiated under the existing law.
§ Major Lloyd-GeorgePolice investigations are made wherever there is reason to suspect that premises are being used for immoral purposes in contravention of the existing law, and proceedings are taken where there is sufficient evidence. Leases with short periods to run are acquired for a variety of purposes and I am not sure that the police can usefully do more than they do at present on the lines suggested, but I am having the matter carefully examined and will write to the hon. Member.