§ 15. Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the continual and depraved type of some films which tend to lower moral standards, he will take steps to make the censorship official and obligatory.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeUnder the existing law local licensing authorities have very wide powers of control over the exhibition of films. If my hon. Friend's suggestion is that these should be replaced by some form of governmental centralised censorship, I could not agree that this is either necessary or desirable.
§ Sir W. SmithersIs not my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the increase of crime recently is due to the materialistic age in which we live, and has greatly increased since 1945?
§ Mr. BrockwayWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman be careful not to be encouraged by the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) to introduce Communist totalitarian methods into this country?