§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the estimate of legal expenses incurred by 515W local authorities in respect of proceedings for the prosecution of alleged offences under the Obscene Publications Act for the years 1976, 1977, and 1978; how much of the expenditure so incurred related to proceedings taken by one local authority in respect of publications that had already been the subject of similar proceedings elsewhere ending in the acquittal; and how much of the total unrecovered costs was borne out of the rate support grant.
§ Mr. Guy BarnettI have been asked to reply.
This information cannot be identified from existing returns by local authorities, including police authorities, made to central Government.