§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Defence why, when Her Majesty's ships are in port in 167W Great Britain or within the three mile limit video recording cannot be played where the recording system is one relayed from a central source whereas they can be played if the playback is of an individual system; if he will take steps to permit video recordings to be played back on board Her Majesty's ships at all times, irrespective of the source of the playing back; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Freeman[pursuant to his reply, 18 June 1986, c. 579]: Because individuals are not permitted to bring personal video recorders on board Her Majesty's ships, the ship's own public system is the only means of showing video recordings. There is a unique and very advantageous arrangement between the Royal Naval Film Corporation and the film distributors, which allows the screening of very recent releases at low cost over the ships' systems, where they do not compete with normal commercial outlets. This arrangement is of great benefit to the Navy as a whole, and we certainly wish to continue to honour it; but under its terms it is not generally possible to allow video recordings of commercial films to be played back over the ships' system while in port, or at anchor less than two miles from a commercial cinema.