§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 May 1997 local authorities have(a) refused to allow the screening of films cleared by the British Board of Film Classification and (b) permitted the screening of films deemed unsuitable for screening by the British Board of Film Classification. [97593]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 8 November 1999]: Under the cinema licensing regime provided by the Cinemas Act 1985, local authorities have the power to determine whether particular films may be shown in cinemas in their area. I understand that local authorities generally require cinemas to abide by the classification certificate issued by the British Board of Film Classification and that decisions not to do so are rare. Records of their decisions are not held centrally.