HL Deb 21 May 1981 vol 420 cc1048-9WA
Lord Houghton of Sowerby

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will respectfully suggest to His Holiness the Pope that during his pastoral visit to this country in 1982 his sermons and messages delivered in public places to the British people at large should put more emphasis upon the threat of over-population to the peace of the world and to the survival of mankind, rather than reviving controversies on contraception and abortion which have already been fully and continuously debated within all sections of our predominantly Protestant and secular society, and which are now both lawful and provided for in our social services by Acts of Parliament.

Lord Carrington

In our democratic society we respect the right of all individuals to hold and express their opinions freely. Her Majesty's Government consider that it would be improper to suggest to the Pope, a visiting Head of State, what he should or should not say in public while in the United Kingdom.