§ Baroness Rendell of Baberghasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they propose to make any changes to the authority responsible for making arrangements for the classification of video works under the Video Recording Act 1984. [HL3852]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn)My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has today laid before both Houses details of his proposal to designate Lord Taylor of Warwick and Ms Janet Lewis Jones under Section 4(4) of the Video Recordings Act 1984. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) earlier today announced their intention to appoint Lord Taylor and Janet Lewis Jones, subject to parliamentary approval under Section 4(4), as their Vice-Presidents. My right honourable friend proposes to designate them, in that capacity, to replace Monica Sims.
Copies of the proposal of designation and the text of a letter my right honourable friend intends to send at the time of designation to Lord Taylor and Janet Lewis Jones have been placed in the Library.
My right honourable friend believes that Lord Taylor and Janet Lewis Jones have the necessary understanding 110WA of the issues relating to the responsibility of a designated authority and he expects them, along with the President, Andreas Whittam Smith, to provide strong leadership for the BBFC.