HC Deb 08 December 1966 vol 737 cc1554-5
17. Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a general direction to the National Film Finance Corporation not to finance films which defame the Army.

18. Sir Knox Cunningham

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give a general directive to the National Film Finance Corporation to refrain from financing films which denigrate the United Kingdom and smear the members of the Armed Forces.

Mr. Jay

I do not consider that such a direction is either necessary or desirable.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Corporation has recently financed a film called "The Private Right" which contains a scene showing a British soldier presiding over the infliction of degrading tortures on a prisoner? This scene is highly offensive to those serving, and to all who have served in the Army. If people want to produce films of this kind, with episodes of this sort, should not they finance them with their own money, and not the taxpayers'?

Mr. Jay

That may be the right hon. Gentleman's opinion about this film, and I do not dissent from it because I have not seen it, but I do not think that it is part of my job to exercise any sort of censorship.

Sir Knox Cunningham

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very full report which appeared in The Times of 16th November about this film, and should not public bodies refuse to use public money to defame members of Her Majesty's Forces? Will the right hon. Gentleman condemn such a practice, and make certain that no further public money is used to finance the other two proposed films of this trilogy?

Mr. Jay

I recognise the strong feelings on the subject, but I doubt whether it would be practical for the National Film Finance Corporation to investigate every detail of a film before it was made.

Mr. Rankin

If we are able to defame Alice in Wonderland, why cannot we defame the Army?

Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

Will the right hon. Gentleman be a bit forthcoming on this subject and say that he will encourage the N.F.F.C. to sponsor the much greater use of film material showing the valuable peace-keeping work done by British forces overseas.

Mr. Jay

I am not convinced that it is my duty to go into this amount of detail, but I am sure that the Corporation and the producers of these films will take note of what has been said in the House today.

Mr. Hamling

Will my right hon. Friend ask the National Film Finance Corporation to make a film of the Black and Tans?

Mr. Corfield

Is it not quite ludicrous that one Government Department should spend a great deal of money in encouraging recruitment to the Armed Forces while other sources of public finance are devoted to denigrating them? Will the right hon. Gentleman take action in the matter?

Mr. Jay

This certainly illustrates the difficulties we get into if public money is used to finance films. We have been urged by hon. Members on both sides of the House to continue this system.

Sir Knox Cunningham

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter at an early moment.