§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make the British Board of Film Censors certificate immune to arbitrary action by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JohnThe legal powers to control the exhibition of particular films rest solely with local cinema licensing authorities. The certificates issued by the British Board of Film Censors, which is an unofficial body with no legal powers in censorship matters, are widely accepted as offering a general standard. Individual authorities may in their discretion decide to modify that standard in either direction in the light of their knowledge of local opinions and feelings. We have no plans for seeking changes in these arrangements.