§ 3 and 4. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) on how many occasions his Department has 1300 intervened to prevent the exhibition of films on television or in the cinemas for political or diplomatic reasons;
(2) why his Department intervened to prevent the showing of the film "Holiday in Sylt" on Independent Television on 8th May.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydThe answer to the first Question is "None, Sir". The second Question therefore does not arise.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Foreign Secretary then suggesting that the radio correspondents of practically all the Conservative newspapers, including the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Express, are liars? Is he aware they all reported that this film was withdrawn by Associated Rediffusion as the result of consultations with the Foreign Office and of representations received from the Foreign Office? Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman categorically denying and repudiating those reports, which were not denied at the time?
§ Mr. LloydI have no idea of the reports to which the hon. Gentleman is drawing my attention. If he will show me them, I will consider them. It is quite untrue that we intervened to prevent the showing of any film.