§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to reform the law of obscenity in order to prevent the publication of books openly advocating sadism, incest, bestiality, genocide, cannibalism and other such practices.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 21 January 1992]The Government fully recognise the need for the law to deal effectively with those who would seek to profit from the trade in pornography. We have introduced or supported a range of measures strengthening the law in relation to child pornography, indecent displays, video recordings and broadcasting. Previous attempts to reform the Obscene Publications Act 1959 and 1964 did not command sufficient support in Parliament but we remain willing to support any apropriate proposals which would make the law more effective and which would appear to command public and parliamentary endorsement.