§ 13. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to amend the Race Relations Acts to cover incitement through the medium of films.
§ Mr. LaneIt would be for the courts to determine whether the Act as it stands covers incitement through the medium of films. My right hon. Friend has no proposals for introducing legislation to amend the Act.
§ Mr. WhiteheadAs the letter of the Act, in Section 6, specifically covers published and therefore printed material, wilt not the hon. Gentleman order an investigation into the use to which films are sometimes put? Will he in particular exercise his right as a member of the Conservative Party to see a film called "England, Whose England?"—a film made and circulated by elements of the Monday Club and which many people feel is a disservice to those working for racial harmony, including the hon. Gentleman's own Department?
§ Mr. LaneI should strongly condemn any film that might inflame racial feelings. If we find that it is necessary to have an 1767 investigation, of course we shall have it. But the question of what is published turns a good deal on how public the performance may be, and I have no evidence that the film the hon. Gentleman mentioned has been shown publicly, in that sense. However, we shall watch the position carefully.