§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has information to the effect that Mr. G. A. Bedford, at one time examiner of plays under the Lord Chamberlain, has been appointed censor of cinematograph performances; whether he can say by what authority he is appointed; what are his duties and powers; under what Statute he acts; and how the powers of the local authority or the police are affected by the appointment?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am informed that the majority of film manufacturers in this country have agreed among themselves to establish an office for the examination of the films that they propose to put upon the market, and that Mr. Bedford has been appointed censor, with general control of the organisation. The new arrangement is entirely unofficial, but I think that such an independent examination of films will be useful to the trade, and at the same time will do much to protect the public from any risk of the production of objectionable pictures. The powers of the local authorities and police will remain unaffected.