§ Sir ROBERT THOMAS(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at the New Gallery Cinema, Regent Street, yesterday, the Film Society presented a film entitled "The End of St. Petersburg," a Russian picture commissioned for propaganda purposes in connection with the tenth anniversary of the Russian Revolution; whether the words, during the presentation of the film, "All power to the Soviet" appear; whether these words were cheered and the National Anthem was hissed during the presentation; and whether he proposes to take any action?
§ Mr. STEPHENOn a point of Order. I would like to ask what urgency there is in regard to this matter?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question of urgency must rest with me.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have been at my office all the morning, but I have not received the hon. Member's question. If he will put it down for Thursday, I will let him have an answer.
§ Sir R. THOMASI must apologise to the right hon. Gentleman. I had not very much time in which to send the information to him. I got the information only this morning. I sent the question to him this morning, to his office in the House.
§ Mr. STEPHENDoes not the answer of the Home Secretary not show that there was no urgency with regard to this matter?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSPerhaps I ought to explain that I have not been upstairs to my room in the House. I left the Home Office only at five minutes past three to come to the House.
§ Sir R. THOMASMay I respectfully give notice that I will ask the same question of the right hon. Gentleman tomorrow?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhy was not the right hon. Gentleman informed of these terrible happenings? Why did he not know all about it before he left London? Why was he not informed that this terrible film was brought into the country? What is his detective service doing?
Mr. MACOUISTENIs the reason for that, that the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) did not tell the right hon. Gentleman about its coming? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that a film of this kind is likely to do more harm than arises from a club being open alittle late?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI think I shall be prepared to deal with all these questions if hon. Members put them to me at the proper time.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have no knowledge of the matter?
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs it in order for this question to be asked again tomorrow? Ought it not to come on again in the ordinary course?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI seem to have made a mistake as regards the urgency in this question, and therefore it had better be put down on the Order Paper.