§ Mr. DAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies which of the Colonies have banned the British picture productions entitled, "Harmony," "Heaven," "Raise the Roof," "Compulsory Husband," and "The Informer"; has he received any information as to the reason why these particular British films have been banned; and will he give the House particulars?
§ Mr. LUNNI have been asked to take this question. My noble Friend has no official information that any of the British picture productions mentioned by the hon. Member have been banned by any Colonial Government, though he has seen newspaper reports that "The Informer" and three other talkies produced by the British International Pictures have been banned in Singapore. The ultimate responsibility for deciding whether or not a, particular film should be shown in a British dependency must,
— Estsblishment. Strength on 1st October, 1930. Percentage of authorized establishment. Officers. Other Ranks. Officers. Other Ranks. Officers. Other Ranks. Regular Army … 4,279 115,016 4,079 104,923 95.3 91.2 Territorial Army … 3,360 98,259 3,226 79,869 96.0 81.3 As regards the third and fourth parts of the question, the number of persons served with notice papers for enlistment in the Foot Guards and Infantry of the Regular Army during the period 1st July, 1930, to 30th September, 1930, was 10,447, of whom 6,506 or 62 per cent. were rejected on medical or physical grounds. I regret that corresponding figures for the Territorial Army are not available, but 686W of course, rest with the Colonial Government. The whole question of the censorship of films so far as the Colonies, etc., are concerned is at present being carefully investigated by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in conjunction with the local Governments. If the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any case which he has specially in mind in which a British film has been banned by a Colonial Government, the Secretary of State will have inquiries made into the matter, but he regards it as most important that the greatest care should be taken to prevent the display of any films which may be for local reasons undesirable.