§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to ban all pornographic material dealing specifically with sexual violence towards women and children.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 27 November 1989]: Among other measures, the Obscene Publications Act 1959, the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981, the Video Recordings Act 1984 and the duties of the broadcasting regulatory bodies (which will be re-affirmed in our Broadcasting Bill) provide controls over pornographic material in its various forms. We have made it plain that we should favour a stronger test of obscenity to replace that in the 1959 Act. We have no other proposals at present.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will convene a meeting between representatives of groups objecting to the sale of pornography and retailers to discuss current retailing practice.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 27 November 1989]: No. We have drawn the strength of feeling represented to us about the availability of certan publications to the attention of major newsagents, and it is open to those who object to the sale of what they regard as pornography to protest directly to the retailers.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department conducted, has commissioned or is aware of concerning the link between pornographic material and sexual violence towards women and children; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 27 November 1989]: We have not conducted or commissioned specific studies into any possible link between pornography and sexual violence towards women and children, but we are aware of numerous studies on the impact of pornography. These have not, to our knowledge, shown definitely either that there is or that there is not such a link. We are planning a review of the available evidence.