Sir Kenneth Robinson (19 March 1911 – 16 February 1996) was a British Labour politician who served as Minister of Health in Harold Wilson's first government, from 1964 to 1968, when the position was merged into the new title of Secretary of State for Social Services.
[citation needed] He was always willing to listen, and indeed took informal advice from his local general practitioners (GPs) during difficult negotiations over the GP Charter in 1965.
John Horder stated of Robinson's role as Minister of Health: "Kenneth brought to this crisis a mind that was well prepared and the calmness, consideration and personality which we all have known".
[8] Robinson stated that there was a "grave concern" among local government at the time about Scientology, and its potential effects on the town of East Grinstead.
[10] Time magazine also quoted Robinson as stating that the Church of Scientology was "socially harmful… a potential menace to the personality" and "a serious danger to health".
[14] This resulted in a settlement between the parties in June 1973, where the Church of Scientology acknowledged that there was no truth to the published allegations, and offered its apologies to Robinson along with a "substantial sum to mark the gravity of the libels".
[14] Robinson supported reform of the laws governing suicide in England and Wales (which was a criminal offence at the time) and in 1958 tabled a motion in the House of Commons.
Despite opposition from the Conservative Home Secretary, Rab Butler, Robinson's motion attracted the support of over 150 fellow MPs within days.
In June 1960, he introduced the first full-scale Commons debate on the Wolfenden Report's proposals to end the law which criminalised consenting sex between men in private.
[16] In 1967, Robinson announced the British government's intentions to limit forms of promotional advertising for cigarettes and cigarette-coupon schemes.