§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to review the licensing guidelines for acts of hypnosis in Home Office circular 42/1989;
(2) what plans he has to bring stage hypnotists into a central register with a code of conduct;
(3) what plans he has to make it compulsory for stage hypnotists to carry public liability insurance.
§ Mr. Charles WardleWe have no present plans to do so.
§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department has on the incidence of unlicensed stage hypnotism acts.
§ Mr. Charles WardleBetween 1982 and 1992, the last year for which statistics are available, there was a total of five prosecutions for offences against the Hypnotism Act 1952, four of which resulted in convictions. Information about the number of prosecutions and convictions for the particular offence of giving an unauthorised public performance of stage hypnotism is not recorded separately.
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§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring private clubs and students unions under the provisions of the Hypnotism Act 1952.
§ Mr. Charles WardleAny public peformance of stage hypnotism in such premises will already fall within the ambit of the Hypnotism Act 1952. We have no present plans to extend the application of that Act to private entertainments.