§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will introduce legislation to provide for the certification of home video films.
(2) whether he will make it a criminal offence for home video films of adult category certification to be shown to children under that certified age.
§ Mr. MayhewLegislation on the lines proposed would give rise to serious difficulties of enforcement. We are, however, keeping under review the operation of the law in relation to video cassettes in the light, amongst other matters, of the discussions which are taking place between the British Board of Film Censors and the British Videogram Association about the introduction of a certification scheme governing the sale or rental of video cassettes. Should such a scheme be introduced, we would wish to assess its effect before deciding whether any statutory controls were required.