HC Deb 06 May 1971 vol 816 cc1633-5
31. Mr. William Price

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many letters she has received about the sex film, "Growing Up".

Mrs. Thatcher

Three hundred and one, Sir.

Mr. Price

Whatever one's view of the film, is it not disturbing that teachers are so vulnerable to disciplinary action by reactionary councillors—

Sir G. Nabarro

Rubbish.

Mr. Price

—many of whom, like the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro), live in the days when young women wore knee-length woollen breeches?

Mr. Thatcher

I doubt very much whether that question warrants an answer.

Sir G. Nabarro

Is my right hon. Friend aware that as a result of a television programme in Birmingham, when I called the author of the film a thoroughly immoral man, a vastly larger number of letters have descended on me than on my right hon. Friend, that 99 per cent. of such letters support my view concerning immorality, and that the first 100 as samples have already gone to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary with an urgent request to cause the Director of Public Prosecutions to view the film and institute proceedings for obscenity and pornography?

Mrs. Thatcher

I am sure that my hon. Friend can deal very effectively with every single letter that has come to him. I am anxious that all the publicity about the film should not get the whole subject out of perspective, for some very excellent work on sex education is being done in the schools in a way of which the parents approve and which is tasteful and satisfactory to all concerned.

Miss Lestor

Does not the right hon. Lady agree that the near-hysteria which has broken out over the film, often from people who have not even seen it, has possibly damaged the whole very worthwhile field of sex education in our schools? Is it not worth mentioning that this week there has been public acclaim of the B.B.C. films on sex education shown to primary school children, although many of those films were condemned by people before they had seen them? Does she agree that if local education authorities decide that a film is not fit to be shown in schools, that should be the end of the matter, and there should not be a witch hunt as in the case of the young teacher concerned with the film which is the subject of the Question?

Mrs. Thatcher

It will be very much to everyone's advantage if we hear no more about this film. I was very glad to receive the support of the Health Education Council, which has seen the film and has told me that in its view, having considered all the factors, it is not suitable for use in schools.

Mr. Maude

Will my right hon. Friend represent to the hon. Member for Rugby (Mr. William Price) the fact that knee-length breeches for young women have become rather groovy wear nowadays?