CEDAW/C/SR.223
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pornography and that the enforcement of proper standards of taste and decency remained unaffected.
86.
Ms. WHITAKER (United Kingdom) said that there were differing arrangements for the dependent territories, and with the Committee's permission she would reply in writing on that subject, including information concerning Anguilla and Montserrat. If it were felt that the questions raised regarding the Falkland Islands were the proper concern of the Committee, such information would be included. She would also give answers in writing to the questions concerning the Human Rights Conventions and Hong Kong.
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87. Ms. BRAMWELL (United Kingdom), replying to a question concerning rape in marriage and whether the law was now adequate, said that the High Court and the House of Lords had ruled in a particular case in 1991 that rape within marriage was a crime and that since then there had been a number of successful prosecutions of husbands for rape. It represented a real change in the law, and could be regarded as a landmark.
88.
Replying to a question concerning outflows and inflows of people, she said that before 1983 there had usually been a net outflow, but that since 1983 there had been a net inflow, including British citizens returning. There continued to be a net inflow from the new Commonwealth, but flows to and from the rest of the European Community and other countries had tended to balance each other. Except for the new Commonwealth, the magnitude of flows had increased, particularly for the rest of the European Community. Analysis by citizenship showed that the level and direction of total net migration depended heavily on the migration patterns of British citizens. Since 1983 the net outflow of British citizens had been much lower than in previous years, and that, together with a slight increase in the net inflow of non-British citizens, had resulted in a net inflow overall in recent years. As for the question concerning social integration when people were returned to their own countries, she pointed out that people were usually not deported unless they had family contacts or people to return to.
89. Ms. WHITAKER (United Kingdom) said that all legislation applied equally to disabled women; employers were obliged to employ a certain number of disabled people, and equal opportunities legislation required that of those disabled people a certain number had to be women. It was, however, often the case that disabled people did not register as disabled and the system in general was under review. Disabled women had equal opportunities not only in the labour market, but also in education and public life. As for the Treaty of Maastricht, the Government of the United Kingdom had clear views about subsidiarity which went beyond concerns for the position of women
90. As for affirmative action and the system of quotas, she wondered whether the soft quotas referred to by one questioner were in fact much the same as the "targets" and "goals" referred to in the United Kingdom. The Government was keen that there should be numerical targets whenever appropriate, but it was not really in favour of fixed quotas, which led to the appointment of "token" women. The progress of affirmative action programmes was being carefully monitored, with a view to incorporating them into legislation, but much depended on the good will of employers, and the Government would consider legislation only if employers were found to be flagrantly flouting affirmative action programmes.
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