Hypnotists (Hansard, 24 January 1995)

§ Mr. Rooney
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been of hypnotists in connection with their trade in each of the last five years.
146W

§ Mr. Maclean
Information held centrally shows one prosecution from 1989 to 1993. This occurred in 1991 and resulted in a conviction.
The 1994 data will not be available until the autumn.

§ Mr. Rooney
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the activities of hypnotists in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
In 1993, we received three letters about stage hypnotism from hon. Members or members of the public. In 1994, we received 39 such letters, and five parliamentary questions about the subject were asked. In addition, the Adjournment debate on stage hypnotism on 12 December 1994,Official Report, columns 745–52, was initiated by the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Pickthall) and my hon. Friends the Members for Taunton (Mr. Nicholson) and for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) participated.

§ Mr. Rooney
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to(a) regulate the activities of hypnotists and (b) require the registration of hypnotists.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
In an Adjournment debate on stage hypnotism on 12 December 1994, I announced that there was to be a review of the workings of the Hypnotism Act 1952 which regulates public performances of stage hypnotism. The review is now in hand.