§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions there have been under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959; and of those found guilty, what sentence was imposed in England and Wales since 1979;
(2) how many orders have been made at magistrates courts in England and Wales to forfeit obscene articles under section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. John PattenInformation held centrally for 1982 to 1987 is given in the table. Information prior to 1982 would involve disproportionate cost.
Items seized by the Metropolitan Police under the Obscene Publications Act 1959, 1979 to 1988. Number of items 1979 1,170,752 1980 849,879 1981 554,862 1982 1,081,404 1983 2,071,190 1984 288,259 1985 286,511 1986 560,047 1987 813,243 1988 655,119