§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will bring forward legislation to abolish libel as a criminal offence;
(2) if he will introduce legislation to make libel a criminal offence only in those cases where a breach of the peace is likely to be occasioned by the libel;
(3) if he will introduce legislation which states clearly what ingredients make up libel as a criminal offence;
(4) if he will introduce legislation making privilege, fair comment and truth defences to charges of criminal libel;
232W(5) if he will introduce legislation to bring the law of criminal libel in England into line with the law of Scotland.
§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to abolish the offence of criminal libel.
§ Mr. JohnThe Government are considering the report of the Faulks Committee on defamation which, inter alia, made recommendations on criminal libel.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the last occasion on which a prosecution for criminal libel was brought against a newspaper.
233W
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal libel prosecutions have taken place in England and Wales for each year since 1950; how many resulted in guilty verdicts; how many defendants
CRIMINAL LABEL—PROCEEDINGS IN ENGLAND AND WALES 1950–1974 Number of persons Magistrates' Courts Higher Courts Year Total proceeded against Committed for trial Found guilty Sentenced to imprisonment Total for trial Found guilty Sentenced to imprisonment 1950 … … 8 5 1 - 6 5 1 1951 … … 9 5 4 1 5 4 1 1952 … … 5 2 2 - 3 3 2 1953 … … 4 1 2 - 1 1 1 1954 … … 9 8 1 1 3 2 - 1955 … … 7 2 4 1 1 1 - 1956 … … 6 2 3 1 3 3 - 1957 … … 2 - 2 - - - 1958 … … 6 4 2 - 5 5 3 1959 … … 5 2 3 - 2 2 1 1960 … … 1 - 1 - - - - 1961 … … 5 1 3 - 1 1 - 1962 … … 3 3 - - 1 1 - 1963 … … 4 3 - - 5 5 2 1964 … … 2 1 1 - 1 - - 1965 … … 5 3 - - 1 1 1 1966 … … 7 1 6 - 1 - - 1967 … … - - - - - - - 1968 … … 6 6 - - 3 3 - 1969 … … - - - - 2 - - 1970 … … 2 1 1 - - - - 1971 … … - - - - 1 1 1 1972 … … 1 - 1 - 1 1 - 1973 … … 1 - 1 - - - - 1974 … … 1 - 1 - - - -
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of criminal libel were considered by the police from 1950 to 1965 and in each succeeding year; and how many of these related to newspaper proprietors, editors and journalists.
§ Mr. JohnThe number of offences of libel recorded as known to the police during the years 1950–1974 is as follows:
234W
OFFENCES OF LIBEL RECORDED AS KNOWN TO THE POLICE England and Wales, 1950–1974 1950 79 1951 104 1952 58 1953 69 1954 93 1955 119 1956 59 1957 64 1958 55 1959 33 were sent to prison; and how many defendants were newspaper proprietors, editors or journalists.
§ Mr. JohnFigures of persons proceeded against in magistrates' courts together with those appearing for trial at the higher courts are shown in the table. Information on the occupation of defendants it not available.
1960 31 1961 26 1962 45 1963 34 1964 22 1965 27 1966 41 1967 14 1968 29 1969 9 1970 10 1971 13 1972 8 1973 19 1974 16 Information on the occupation of those alleged to be reponsible is not available.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to stop further prosecutions for criminal libel until the law has been clarified.
§ Mr. JohnNo. It would not be appropriate to use legislation for this 235W purpose. If legislation were introduced it should clarify the law.