§ EARL FORTESCUEasked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the number of convictions for homosexual offences in 1938, 1955 and 1960; and what percentage of those convicted had previous convictions for homosexual offences; also what are the similar figures (with percentage of previous convictions) for those convicted in 1938, 1955 and 1960 of rape, attempted rape, indecent assault and indecent behaviour towards women and girls; and also of those convicted in 1960 of homosexual and heterosexual offences how many asked for other previous convictions of comparable nature to be taken into consideration.
EARL BATHURSTIn England and Wales the numbers of persons convicted of indictable homosexual offences were 581 in 1938, 2,293 in 1955 and 1.861 in 1960. In Scotland the numbers of persons against whom charges were proved for offences of this kind were 80 in 1955 and 159 in 1960; the figure for 1938 is not available. No figures are available showing the percentage of those convicted of homosexual offences who had been previously convicted of this type of offence or who had other such offences taken into consideration, but in 1955 approximately 16 per cent. of the persons convicted in England and Wales of an indictable homosexual offence had been previously convicted of an indictable sexual offence, either homosexual or heterosexual; 12 per cent. of those convicted had indictable sexual offences taken into consideration. No such percentage figures are available for the other years concerned, or for Scotland.
931WAFor the offences of rape, attempted rape, indecent assault on a woman or girl and indecent exposure the numbers of persons convicted in England and Wales were 2,810 in 1938, 4,645 in 1955 and 5,369 in 1960. For the offences of rape, assault with intent to ravish, indecent assault and indecent exposure the numbers of persons against whom charges were proved in Scotland were 215 in 1938, 290 in 1955 and 390 in 1960. Approximately 11 per cent, of those convicted in England and Wales in 1955 of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault on a woman or girl had been previously convicted of indictable sexual offences; 5 per cent. of those convicted had indictable sexual offences taken into consideration.