Sexual Offences Ms. Primarolo To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in each of the years from 1980 to 1989 inclusive how many gay and/or bisexual men in England and Wales were convicted of importuning in public places, contrary to section 32 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956; (2) in each of the years from 1980 to 1989 inclusive how many men were convicted for the offences of gross indecency and indecency between males in England and Wales. Mr. John Patten The information requested is given in the table. Data for 1989 will not be available until the autumn.--------- |Offence| --------- |1980 | --------- |1981 | --------- |1982 | --------- |1983 | --------- |1984 | --------- |1985 | --------- |1986 | --------- |1987 | --------- |1988 | --------- Mr. Corbyn To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men in England and Wales were convicted of the offences of procuring or attempting to procure the commission of acts of buggery and gross indecency in each of the years 1980 to 1989, inclusive. Mr. John Patten The information requested is given in the table. Data for 1989 will not be available until the autumn.-- || -- Mr. Livingstone To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance his Department issues to police forces on what constitutes an immoral purpose for the purposes of prosecution for importuning in a public place for immoral purposes;(2) what guidance his Department issues to police forces as to those acts which might be construed as representing gross indecency. Mr. John Patten None. The law has been interpreted by the courts. If necessary the police can turn to the Crown prosecution service for advice. Mr. Livingstone To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to police forces on criteria to be employed when deciding between prosecution for the offences of indecency between men and gross indecency; and what is his Department's definition of indecency between males as used in its sexual offences statistics. Mr. John Patten None. Charges brought under section 13 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 are for acts of gross indecency between men. There is no lesser offence of indecency as opposed to gross indecency.