CENSORSHIP. (Hansard, 1 March 1928)

9. Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALL
asked the Home Secretary Whether, in view of recent events, he will consider the advisability of appointing some Government Department to be responsible for the censoring of films?

§ 10. Mr. DIXEY
asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the position and importance of the film censorship, he will consider the introduction of a Bill to set up an official body to so act responsible to the Government or, alternatively, delegate such duties to the Lord Chamberlain?

11. Sir WILLIAM LANE MITCHELL
asked the Home Secretary whether it is the intention of the Government to take the power of censoring films out of the hands of the London County Council and local authorities in the country, and to appoint instead a permanent official censorship?

§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS
On previous occasions on which a similar question has been put to me, I have replied that I had no sufficient evidence that the present system of censorship fails to secure on the whole an adequate standard. As I explained in reply to the question put to me by my hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock (Major MacAndrew) on the 16th February, the present censorship rests under the Statute with the local authorities, who generally rely on the judgment of the Board of Film Censors. Where a film is not passed by the Board of Film Censors it is open to the owners of the film to apply to the responsible local authority for permission to exhibit it. His Majesty's Government is satisfied that this is a matter which is better left to the local authorities for decision.

Sir F. HALL
If the Government are of opinion that it would be better left to the local authorities, does not, my right hon. Friend think it inadvisable that any member of the Cabinet should approach the public Censor with a view 580 to banning a film, and that we do not have an opportunity of discussing the matter in this House?

§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS
I have not myself acted in that capacity at all.

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
How can the right hon. Gentleman say that he is satisfied with the present arrangements when, in the particular case that we all have in mind, the Foreign Secretary has expressed his disapproval, and yet every local authority in the country is at liberty to license this film?

§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS
A good many questions have been put to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in regard to this matter, and he has, I think, fully informed the House as to the reasons for the action which he took and the capacity in which he took it. I should imagine that hon. Members sitting on that side would certainly desire to leave local authorities the fullest possible discretion in this matter. If and when, as was suggested, I think, yesterday, in a question to the Prime Minister, the matter is debated, I shall be prepared to make a very full statement on the origin and progress of the censorship.

Sir F. HALL
I am not referring to any specific film, but is my right hon. Friend not of opinion that the industry itself might be very seriously handicapped if this sort of thing is going to happen, and we have not anyone here to whom we can address questions on the subject?

§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS
That is exactly the point that, from my point of view, makes it desirable to leave it to the local authorities. Just imagine the Home Secretary s position if every single film, as might be the case, were to be the subject of a question in this House. It would be an impossible position.

Sir F. HALL
Will my right hon. Friend indicate to the Foreign Secretary his excellent views in the matter?

§ Mr. DIXEY
Do the Government propose to give time to discuss this question?

§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS
I think the Prime Minister said yesterday that it was not at the moment possible to give a specific day, but that there would be an opportunity to discuss it on the Consolidated Fund Bill.

§ Mr. MACLEAN
Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider it advisable, since he intends to leave it to the local authorities, to abolish the office of Censor altogether?

§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the Consolidated Fund Bill the subjects are usually dictated by the Opposition; and cannot we come to an arrangement by which time will be given? Will he represent that to the Prime Minister?

§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS
I was not in the House at the time, but my hon. and gallant Friend at ray side (Sir G. Hennessy) tells me that the Prime Minister suggested that a private Member's Motion or a Motion for the Adjournment would be a better opportunity for raising it.