§ 51. Mr. Anthony Greenwoodasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to ensure that the import of foreign films is permitted only in the case of those which contain no obscene or immoral matter, or any matter urging resistance to the law.
§ The Secretary for Overseas Trade (Mr. H. R. Mackeson)No, Sir. The powers under which the Board of Trade control imports are used to safeguard the balance of payments and I do not consider that it would be appropriate to use them for any such purpose as the hon. Member has in mind. The effect of the public exhibition of films is not a matter which concerns my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. GreenwoodIs the hon. Gentleman aware that his statement will be most welcome to everybody in the country, and that we would have been even more delighted if, under the McCarran Act, the Americans did not impose such conditions upon films going from this country to the United States?