asked the Attorney-General if he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions, with a view to instituting proceedings against the publishers, the publication and circulation of the obscene document, Penthouse, a copy of which has been sent to him.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has now decided, on the ground of obscenity, to prosecute the publishers of a document, Penthouse, a copy of which has been sent to him.

Police inquiries are being carried out on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions about the publication of a circular advertising the magazine called Penthouse.

While thanking the Attorney-General for that reply, and while welcoming it, may I ask him whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent further circularisation of such undesirable literature as this and whether or not he can recommend to the Government and the Home Office any additions to the Indecent Publications Act as it now stands?

As I said, police inquiries are now being carried out on behalf of the Director. I do not think that it would be proper for me to say anything further at this stage. Any suggestion that the law needs Amendment must be directed to the Home Secretary.

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say for how long these inquiries will go on, since all we have to consider is the circularisation of a leaflet, about which it should not be too difficult to come to a conclusion?

The inquiries will go on as far as is necessary to enable a right decision to be made.

Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that this was a disgusting circular? In view of the possible time that may be taken to institute proceedings, would he consider discussing with his right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General the possibility of refusing any further material for postage from this company unless an undertaking is given that it will not include circulars of this type?

I fear that I can go no further than I have done in the answers I have given to previous questions.