§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that the Family Planning Association is issuing literature for teenagers and others containing advice offensive to the religion and morality of many people; and whether he will therefore take steps to withhold support for this body from public funds.
§ Sir K. JosephThe Family Planning Association is an independent voluntary body, and it is working in a difficult area of morals where, whatever views any one person may hold, there are clearly wide differences of opinion. The only grants which I make to the Family Planning Association are for specific purposes in the fields of training and research in family planning. Naturally I would be concerned if the activities which my Department finances were to lead to a moral climate that would be generally regarded as offensive but the grants are mainly concerned with the training of professional staff in the techniques of contraception and they do not give me the right to interfere in any aspects of the association's policy with which I might disagree. Of course, the general behaviour of an organisation is a factor which I would take into account in deciding whether to give or renew a grant.
I have had brought to my attention six extracts from books available at the Family Planning Association's headquarters, which have caused concern to a number of people. Three extracts were quoted in my view out of context and are not, again in my view, offensive when read in context. The other three were from a leaflet by the National Secular Society reference to which is now to be withdrawn from the Family Planning Association booklet.
§ Mr. Leonardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the position of areas where totally free contraception is part of the personal health service with a view to considering whether such provision should be made mandatory.
§ Sir K. JosephI have recently met deputations from some of the areas 387W concerned, and I am aware generally of their position. It is not my intention to direct local health authorities to adopt any particular pattern of family planning services.