§ Mr. Beithasked the Attorney-General what materials confiscated under the Obscene Publications Act have been supplied by the Director of Public Prosecutions to psychiatric hospitals, including Moss Side and Park Lane hospitals, Liverpool; and whether he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) by the Secretary of State for Social Services on 9 April 1976.—[Vol. 909, c.330].
From time to time material which has been adjudged obscene has been loaned by the Director of Public Prosecutions to individual medical practitioners at psychiatric hospitals for therapeutic purposes. The loans have been subject to stringent conditions as to the use and security of the material and have been made only with the prior approval of the Department of Health and Social Security, which has supported 264W 16 June 1980, c. 357]: Information is not available in the form requested. However, the information available on those so killed or injured as a result of fires in 1978 is given in the following table; it is not known how many of those attempting to fight fires were doing so in an attempt to save life. I am aware of five persons, all apparently private citizens, drowned in England and Wales in 1978 while attempting to save life in drowning incidents; the number of persons injured in such incidents is not reported to the Home Office. Information on those killed or injured in attempts to save life in other types of emergency is not available.
each individual request for a loan made by the practitioner concerned.
DPP records show that materials are currently on loan to doctors at 10 hospitals, including Moss Side and Park Lane hospitals, Liverpool. The material on loan comprises magazines and photographs together with a small number of slides, transparencies and novels.
I am satisfied with the terms under which the Director is still co-operating with the Department of Health and Social Security and the medical practitioners concerned and that, in doing so, he is acting properly and responsibly.