§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake to bring forward proposals to repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824.
§ Mr. John PattenNo. The Vagrancy Act 1824 has been much amended over the years and in its present form provides power to deal with a number of nuisances, including indecent exposure.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had in connection with the number of homeless persons arrested under the Vagrancy Act 1824.
§ Mr. John PattenI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mrs. Golding) on 13 November 1991 at column537.