HC Deb 21 January 1971 vol 809 cc1253-4
10. Mr. Michael McNair Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that existing regulations on outdoor advertising by cinemas prevent the display of photographs likely to cause offence to members of the general public; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Carlisle

There are safeguards in the general law covering obscenity and indecent display, and in the conditions which can be included in cinema licences; and the film industry itself operates a voluntary censorship. My right hon. Friend is not persuaded on present information that further powers are needed but he is keeping the position under review.

Mr. McNair-Wilson

My hon. Friend may talk about safeguards, but is he aware that many ordinary, decent people are shocked and disgusted by the photographs which appear outside so many cinemas, in the West End, the suburbs and the provincial cities and towns, showing sexual intimacy, both normal and perverse, including sadism, which in my opinion constitute a major public offence?

Mr. Carlisle

The type of display which a licensed cinema may have outside the cinema may be covered by a term of the licence. I think that what are concerning my hon. Friend are club cinemas, where the licensing provisions do not apply.

Mr. McNair-Wilson

No.

Mr. Carlisle

The law which covers club cinemas is the Obscene Publications Act, and club cinemas are not covered by licensing conditions.

Mr. Rees-Davies

Will my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary draw the attention of the Metropolitan Police to the existing common law of England, whereby anything which is flaunted in the face of the public and regarded by the public as obscene is a criminal offence? Will he further consider whether the statute law needs to be strengthened, having regard to the inadequacy of the present laws on public nuisance?

Mr. Carlisle

Of course my right hon. Friend will draw the attention of the Metropolitan Police to the law on obscene publications. I can only repeat that even stronger controls by the licensing authorities apply to normal cinemas. It is the recommendation of the Home Office in one of their model licensing conditions that where licensing authorities have given notice in writing to the licensee of premises objecting to an advertisement because it is offensive to public feeling, that advertisement should not be displayed on the premises except with the consent in writing of the licensing authority.