§ Lords amendment: No. 13, in page 6, line 29, at end insert "general".
§ Mr. BrightI beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerWith this it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendments Nos. 14 to 18 and 33.
§ Mr. BrightThese amendments deal with the contents of classification certificates issued under clause 7. They can be broken down into two sub-groups. Amendments Nos. 13 to 16 and 33 deal with the parental guidance category. On Report in another place Lord Houghton of Sowerby moved an amendment designed to express in different language the three classifications U(C), U and PG, for which clause 7(2)(a) provides. The noble Lord felt that there was scope for this subparagraph to be modified to reflect more clearly the basis on which the British Board of Film Censors currently awards these certificates for the cinema and on which it will award similar certificates under the Bill. My noble Friend Lord Elton undertook to consider the matter further and, as a result of discussions with the BBFC, my noble Friend Lord Nugent moved amendments on Third Reading which helped to clarify clause 7(2)(a).
Amendments Nos. 17 and 18 deal with the maximum age to be specified on classification certificates and provide that no age above 18 should be specified. It was intended that 15 and 18 years would be specified on certificates such as those issued by the BBFC, but, in view of anxiety expressed in another place, especially by Lord McIntosh of Haringey, my noble Friend Lord Nugent moved amendments on Third Reading stating that no age above 18 should be specified in a classification certificate needed under clause 7. I commend the amendments to the House.
§ Mr. MellorThe House should understand why it was thought necessary to accept the amendments in the other place——
§ It being Eleven o'clock, MR. SPEAKER interrupted the proceedings, pursuant to Standing Order No. 5 (Friday sittings).