HC Deb 25 January 1994 vol 236 c161W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to license video outlets; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

Where the sale and hire of sexually explicit material comprise a significant degree of the business of video outlets, such establishments are already subject to licensing by local authorities under section 2 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. These adoptive powers enable local authorities to vet those seeking to run sex establishments and to exclude such establishments altogether from unsuitable areas. We have no present plans to extend these provisions nor are we persuaded that compliance with the provisions of the Video Recordings Act 1984 would be improved by a more general licensing system.