§ Dr. SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 applies to pornographic magazines normally displayed on the top shelf of newsagents. [24477]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 applies to any matter, including pornographic magazines, displayed in a public place or where it can be seen from a public place, if such matter is indecent.
§ Dr. SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been brought under the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 in the last five years; how many of these were successful; and at what sort of premises the material was displayed. [24480]
§ Mr. MacleanInformation of the number of prosecutions and convictions for 1989 and 1993 is given in the table. 1994 data will not be available until the autumn.
Information is not collected centrally regarding the type of premises where the offence took place.
366W
Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts of offences under the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981, 1989–1993 England and Wales 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Prosecutions 30 27 9 10 7 Convictions 17 19 4 8 3
§ Dr. SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the trends in pornographic publishing and distribution industry in respect of the explicit nature of the material, and what action he is taking to resist the slippage of standards and ensure that the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 is effectively enforced. [24479]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe Government share the widespread concern about the spread of pornography and keep the law in this area under review. Measures to ensure that the law keeps pace with advances in technology and is enforced more effectively were included in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.
The recently established interdepartmental group on obscenity will monitor trends in the area of obscenity and pornography with the aim of identifying any actual or potential difficulties in enforcement or weaknesses in the law, including the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981.
§ Dr. SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whose responsibility it is to enforce the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981; and what arrangements are in place to monitor its enforcement; [24482]
(2) to whom the public should complain in respect of concerns about a magazine cover which they believe is indecent and on display. [24476]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe enforcement of the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981 itself is a matter for the police, to whom the public should complain if they are concerned that a magazine cover is indecent and on public display.
The interdepartmental group on obscenity keeps under review the operation of the law on obscenity and pornography, including indecent displays.