§ Mr. Alisonasked the Attorney-General whether it is now the practice of the Director of Public Prosecutions to treat all obscenity cases in which the jury cannot agree as acquittals, and to offer no evidence at re-trials.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. Each case is considered on its merits.
§ Mr. Alisonasked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions leading to trial by jury under the Obscene Publications Act have taken place in the Metropolitan area in each of the last five years for which records are available; in how many such cases the defence called upon expert witnesses; and in how many such cases the prosecution called upon expert witnesses in rebuttal.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe available records do not necessarily disclose the witnesses called by both defence and prosecution. Information concerning the number of prosecutions could not be provided without disproportionate expense.