§ Mr. FitzpatrickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the consultation paper on the regulation of R18 videos; and if he will make a statement. [132679]
§ Mr. StrawI have today placed in the Library copies of a Consultation Paper on the Regulation of R18 videos. As hon. Members will be aware, I was extremely disappointed with the High Court decision, on 16 may, which dismissed the British Board of Film Classification's application for Judicial Review in respect of appeals against their decision not to classify seven sexually explicit videos in the R (restricted) 18 category—which are available only in licensed sex shops. The Government maintain a firm commitment to the protection of children from unsuitable sexually explicit material and, in the light of the recent judgment, are publishing a consultation paper which examines a number of options to improve the safeguards for children from possible exposure to videos classified in the R (restricted) 18 category. The paper also suggests measures for modernising and strengthening the recruitment and appointment procedures of the Video Appeals Committee.