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Mr. Dafis: There is a growing consensus that there is too much violence on television, and that something must be done about it. That view is held in the country, among experts and among Members of Parliament--and I have been impressed by that. Hon. Members have said that there is far too much violence on television and that it is doing a huge amount of damage. Something has to be done.
I will not go into whether we can establish a direct connection between depictions of violence and specific crimes--although I dare say it happens. We have a constant diet of violent scenes--surely it coarsens the grain of society and increases the amount of low-level violence, such as threatening behaviour. I believe that there is also a connection in relation to the most horrific crimes.
The V-chip issue has been carefully and eloquently described, and I am not competent to consider the technical aspects of it. Parents who wish to prevent their unsupervised children from being exposed to pernicious material should have the opportunity to do so--I was glad to hear the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) accept that principle.
I emphasise that my amendment is modest--it is not a huge imposition. It asks the Secretary of State to draw up a plan to reduce the amount of violence. Surely that can be done without sacrificing the need for realism and the need to depict violence to the extent that is appropriate. We can prevent the depiction of violence in newsreels. We are discussing reducing the quantity of violence that is shown on television--that is of the essence.
I welcome the Secretary of State's acknowledgment of the problem, and I am glad to hear that there will be an annual review, discussions with regulators and so on. Tonight we have an opportunity to put a useful process in motion without causing a huge dislocation of existing provisions, and without creating major difficulties for the Government. That is what the amendments do.
In the process, we shall send a powerful message to the Government--Conservative Members have heard it already--to the broadcasters and to the public. Tonight the Chamber has grappled with a serious problem in society, and the debate has been most impressive. We should take the opportunity to send that welcome message, so I shall press the new clause to a Division.
Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:--
The House divided: Ayes 137, Noes 352.
Tellers for the Ayes:
Tellers for the Noes:
Question accordingly negatived.
Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:--
AYES
Adams, Mrs Irene
Alton, David
Ashdown, Rt Hon Paddy
Banks, Tony (Newham NW)
Barnes, Harry
Battle, John
Beggs, Roy
Benn, Rt Hon Tony
Blunkett, David
Bray, Dr Jeremy
Bruce, Malcolm (Gordon)
Byers, Stephen
Callaghan, Jim
Campbell, Menzies (Fife NE)
Campbell, Ronnie (Blyth V)
Campbell-Savours, D N
Canavan, Dennis
Cann, Jamie
Carlile, Alexander (Montgomery)
Chidgey, David
Chisholm, Malcolm
Clarke, Eric (Midlothian)
Clwyd, Mrs Ann
Cohen, Harry
Connarty, Michael
Cook, Frank (Stockton N)
Corston, Jean
Cox, Tom
Cummings, John
Cunliffe, Lawrence
Cunningham, Roseanna
Dafis, Cynog
Davies, Chris (L'Boro & S'worth)
Davies, Ron (Caerphilly)
Davis, Terry (B'ham, H'dge H'l)
Dixon, Don
Donohoe, Brian H
Eastham, Ken
Etherington, Bill
Ewing, Mrs Margaret
Fatchett, Derek
Field, Frank (Birkenhead)
Forsythe, Clifford (S Antrim)
Foster, Rt Hon Derek
Foster, Don (Bath)
Fyfe, Maria
Galloway, George
Gapes, Mike
Garrett, John
George, Bruce
Gerrard, Neil
Godman, Dr Norman A
Godsiff, Roger
Golding, Mrs Llin
Gordon, Mildred
Graham, Thomas
Griffiths, Win (Bridgend)
Grocott, Bruce
Hanson, David
Hardy, Peter
Hill, Keith (Streatham)
Hinchliffe, David
Hodge, Margaret
Hoey, Kate
Home Robertson, John
Hood, Jimmy
Howarth, Alan (Strat'rd-on-A)
Howarth, George (Knowsley North)
Hughes, Roy (Newport E)
Hughes, Simon (Southwark)
Illsley, Eric
Jamieson, David
Janner, Greville
Jones, Barry (Alyn and D'side)
Jones, Jon Owen (Cardiff C)
Jones, Lynne (B'ham S O)
Jones, Martyn (Clwyd, SW)
Jones, Nigel (Cheltenham)
Keen, Alan
Kennedy, Charles (Ross,C&S)
Khabra, Piara S
Kirkwood, Archy
Lewis, Terry
Litherland, Robert
Livingstone, Ken
McAllion, John
Macdonald, Calum
McKelvey, William
McNamara, Kevin
MacShane, Denis
Madden, Max
Maddock, Diana
Mahon, Alice
Marek, Dr John
Marshall, David (Shettleston)
Martin, Michael J (Springburn)
Meale, Alan
Michael, Alun
Michie, Bill (Sheffield Heeley)
Mitchell, Austin (Gt Grimsby)
Molyneaux, Rt Hon Sir James
Morley, Elliot
Morris, Rt Hon Alfred (Wy'nshawe)
Morris, Estelle (B'ham Yardley)
Morris, Rt Hon John (Aberavon)
Mullin, Chris
Oakes, Rt Hon Gordon
O'Hara, Edward
Pike, Peter L
Powell, Sir Ray (Ogmore)
Prentice, Gordon (Pendle)
Radice, Giles
Randall, Stuart
Robinson, Geoffrey (Co'try NW)
Rogers, Allan
Ross, William (E Londonderry)
Rowlands, Ted
Sheerman, Barry
Shore, Rt Hon Peter
Spearing, Nigel
Steel, Rt Hon Sir David
Steinberg, Gerry
Straw, Jack
Taylor, Rt Hon John D (Strgfd)
Taylor, Matthew (Truro)
Trickett, Jon
Tyler, Paul
Wallace, James
Walley, Joan
Wareing, Robert N
Wicks, Malcolm
Williams, Rt Hon Alan (Sw'n W)
Williams, Alan W (Carmarthen)
Wise, Audrey
Worthington, Tony
Wray, Jimmy
Wright, Dr Tony
Ms Liz Lynne and
Mr. Elfyn Llwyd.
NOES
Abbott, Ms Diane
Ainsworth, Peter (East Surrey)
Ainsworth, Robert (Cov'try NE)
Aitken, Rt Hon Jonathan
Alexander, Richard
Alison, Rt Hon Michael (Selby)
Allason, Rupert (Torbay)
Amess, David
Arbuthnot, James
Arnold, Jacques (Gravesham)
Ashby, David
Ashton, Joe
Aspinwall, Jack
Atkins, Rt Hon Robert
Atkinson, David (Bour'mouth E)
Atkinson, Peter (Hexham)
Baker, Rt Hon Kenneth (Mole V)
Baker, Nicholas (North Dorset)
Banks, Matthew (Southport)
Banks, Robert (Harrogate)
Barron, Kevin
Bates, Michael
Batiste, Spencer
Bayley, Hugh
Bellingham, Henry
Bendall, Vivian
Bennett, Andrew F
Beresford, Sir Paul
Bermingham, Gerald
Berry, Roger
Betts, Clive
Biffen, Rt Hon John
Body, Sir Richard
Bonsor, Sir Nicholas
Booth, Hartley
Boswell, Tim
Bottomley, Peter (Eltham)
Bottomley, Rt Hon Virginia
Bowden, Sir Andrew
Bowis, John
Boyson, Rt Hon Sir Rhodes
Brandreth, Gyles
Brazier, Julian
Bright, Sir Graham
Brooke, Rt Hon Peter
Brown, M (Brigg & Cl'thorpes)
Brown, N (N'c'tle upon Tyne E)
Browning, Mrs Angela
Bruce, Ian (South Dorset)
Budgen, Nicholas
Burns, Simon
Burt, Alistair
Butcher, John
Butler, Peter
Butterfill, John
Caborn, Richard
Campbell, Mrs Anne (C'bridge)
Carlisle, John (Luton North)
Carlisle, Sir Kenneth (Lincoln)
Carttiss, Michael
Cash, William
Chapman, Sir Sydney
Churchill, Mr
Clapham, Michael
Clappison, James
Clark, Dr David (South Shields)
Clark, Dr Michael (Rochford)
Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey
Coe, Sebastian
Coffey, Ann
Colvin, Michael
Congdon, David
Conway, Derek
Coombs, Anthony (Wyre For'st)
Coombs, Simon (Swindon)
Cope, Rt Hon Sir John
Corbett, Robin
Corbyn, Jeremy
Couchman, James
Cran, James
Cunningham, Jim (Covy SE)
Cunningham, Rt Hon Dr John
Currie, Mrs Edwina (S D'by'ire)
Curry, David (Skipton & Ripon)
Dalyell, Tam
Darling, Alistair
Davidson, Ian
Davies, Bryan (Oldham C'tral)
Davies, Quentin (Stamford)
Day, Stephen
Denham, John
Deva, Nirj Joseph
Devlin, Tim
Dorrell, Rt Hon Stephen
Douglas-Hamilton, Lord James
Dover, Den
Duncan, Alan
Duncan Smith, Iain
Dunn, Bob
Durant, Sir Anthony
Dykes, Hugh
Eagle, Ms Angela
Eggar, Rt Hon Tim
Elletson, Harold
Emery, Rt Hon Sir Peter
Evans, David (Welwyn Hatfield)
Evans, Jonathan (Brecon)
Evans, Nigel (Ribble Valley)
Evans, Roger (Monmouth)
Evennett, David
Faber, David
Fabricant, Michael
Fenner, Dame Peggy
Field, Barry (Isle of Wight)
Fishburn, Dudley
Forman, Nigel
Forth, Eric
Fox, Dr Liam (Woodspring)
Fox, Rt Hon Sir Marcus (Shipley)
Freeman, Rt Hon Roger
French, Douglas
Fry, Sir Peter
Galbraith, Sam
Gale, Roger
Gallie, Phil
Gardiner, Sir George
Garel-Jones, Rt Hon Tristan
Garnier, Edward
Gill, Christopher
Gillan, Cheryl
Goodlad, Rt Hon Alastair
Goodson-Wickes, Dr Charles
Gorman, Mrs Teresa
Gorst, Sir John
Grant, Sir A (SW Cambs)
Greenway, Harry (Ealing N)
Greenway, John (Ryedale)
Griffiths, Peter (Portsmouth, N)
Grylls, Sir Michael
Gummer, Rt Hon John Selwyn
Gunnell, John
Hague, Rt Hon William
Hamilton, Rt Hon Sir Archibald
Hamilton, Neil (Tatton)
Hampson, Dr Keith
Hanley, Rt Hon Jeremy
Hannam, Sir John
Harman, Ms Harriet
Haselhurst, Sir Alan
Hawkins, Nick
Hawksley, Warren
Hayes, Jerry
Heald, Oliver
Heathcoat-Amory, Rt Hon David
Henderson, Doug
Hendry, Charles
Heseltine, Rt Hon Michael
Hicks, Sir Robert
Higgins, Rt Hon Sir Terence
Hill, Sir James (Southampton Test)
Hogg, Rt Hon Douglas (G'tham)
Hogg, Norman (Cumbernauld)
Hoon, Geoffrey
Horam, John
Hordern, Rt Hon Sir Peter
Howard, Rt Hon Michael
Howell, Rt Hon David (G'dford)
Howell, Sir Ralph (N Norfolk)
Hughes, Kevin (Doncaster N)
Hughes, Robert (Aberdeen N)
Hughes, Robert G (Harrow W)
Hunt, Rt Hon David (Wirral W)
Hunt, Sir John (Ravensbourne)
Hunter, Andrew
Hutton, John
Ingram, Adam
Jack, Michael
Jackson, Helen (Shef'ld, H)
Jackson, Robert (Wantage)
Jenkin, Bernard
Jessel, Toby
Johnson Smith, Sir Geoffrey
Jones, Gwilym (Cardiff N)
Jones, Robert B (W Hertfdshr)
Jopling, Rt Hon Michael
Kellett-Bowman, Dame Elaine
Key, Robert
King, Rt Hon Tom
Kirkhope, Timothy
Knight, Mrs Angela (Erewash)
Knight, Rt Hon Greg (Derby N)
Knight, Dame Jill (Bir'm E'st'n)
Knox, Sir David
Kynoch, George (Kincardine)
Lait, Mrs Jacqui
Lamont, Rt Hon Norman
Lang, Rt Hon Ian
Lawrence, Sir Ivan
Legg, Barry
Leigh, Edward
Lennox-Boyd, Sir Mark
Lester, Sir James (Broxtowe)
Liddell, Mrs Helen
Lidington, David
Lilley, Rt Hon Peter
Lloyd, Rt Hon Sir Peter (Fareham)
Lloyd, Tony (Stretford)
Lord, Michael
Luff, Peter
Lyell, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas
McFall, John
MacGregor, Rt Hon John
MacKay, Andrew
Mackinlay, Andrew
Maclean, Rt Hon David
McLeish, Henry
McNair-Wilson, Sir Patrick
Madel, Sir David
Maitland, Lady Olga
Malone, Gerald
Mans, Keith
Marland, Paul
Marlow, Tony
Marshall, Jim (Leicester, S)
Marshall, John (Hendon S)
Marshall, Sir Michael (Arundel)
Martin, David (Portsmouth S)
Mates, Michael
Mawhinney, Rt Hon Dr Brian
Maxton, John
Mayhew, Rt Hon Sir Patrick
Mellor, Rt Hon David
Merchant, Piers
Michie, Mrs Ray (Argyll & Bute)
Mills, Iain
Mitchell, Andrew (Gedling)
Mitchell, Sir David (NW Hants)
Monro, Rt Hon Sir Hector
Montgomery, Sir Fergus
Moonie, Dr Lewis
Moss, Malcolm
Needham, Rt Hon Richard
Nelson, Anthony
Neubert, Sir Michael
Newton, Rt Hon Tony
Nicholls, Patrick
Nicholson, David (Taunton)
Norris, Steve
O'Brien, William (Normanton)
O'Neill, Martin
Oppenheim, Phillip
Orme, Rt Hon Stanley
Ottaway, Richard
Page, Richard
Paice, James
Patnick, Sir Irvine
Patten, Rt Hon John
Pattie, Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey
Peacock, Mrs Elizabeth
Pendry, Tom
Pickles, Eric
Porter, Barry (Wirral S)
Porter, David (Waveney)
Portillo, Rt Hon Michael
Powell, William (Corby)
Primarolo, Dawn
Rathbone, Tim
Redwood, Rt Hon John
Richards, Rod
Riddick, Graham
Robathan, Andrew
Roberts, Rt Hon Sir Wyn
Robertson, Raymond (Ab'd'n S)
Robinson, Mark (Somerton)
Roe, Mrs Marion (Broxbourne)
Rooker, Jeff
Rooney, Terry
Ross, Ernie (Dundee W)
Rowe, Andrew (Mid Kent)
Rumbold, Rt Hon Dame Angela
Sackville, Tom
Sainsbury, Rt Hon Sir Timothy
Scott, Rt Hon Sir Nicholas
Shaw, David (Dover)
Sheldon, Rt Hon Robert
Shephard, Rt Hon Gillian
Shepherd, Sir Colin (Hereford)
Shepherd, Richard (Aldridge)
Shersby, Sir Michael
Simpson, Alan
Sims, Sir Roger
Skeet, Sir Trevor
Skinner, Dennis
Smith, Andrew (Oxford E)
Smith, Sir Dudley (Warwick)
Soames, Nicholas
Spellar, John
Spencer, Sir Derek
Spicer, Sir James (W Dorset)
Spicer, Sir Michael (S Worcs)
Spink, Dr Robert
Sproat, Iain
Squire, Robin (Hornchurch)
Stanley, Rt Hon Sir John
Steen, Anthony
Stephen, Michael
Stewart, Allan
Strang, Dr. Gavin
Streeter, Gary
Sumberg, David
Sweeney, Walter
Sykes, John
Tapsell, Sir Peter
Taylor, Mrs Ann (Dewsbury)
Taylor, Ian (Esher)
Taylor, John M (Solihull)
Taylor, Sir Teddy (Southend, E)
Thomason, Roy
Thompson, Sir Donald (C'er V)
Thompson, Patrick (Norwich N)
Thornton, Sir Malcolm
Thurnham, Peter
Touhig, Don
Townend, John (Bridlington)
Townsend, Cyril D (Bexl'yh'th)
Tracey, Richard
Trend, Michael
Trotter, Neville
Twinn, Dr Ian
Vaughan, Sir Gerard
Viggers, Peter
Waldegrave, Rt Hon William
Walden, George
Walker, Bill (N Tayside)
Waller, Gary
Ward, John
Wardell, Gareth (Gower)
Waterson, Nigel
Watts, John
Wells, Bowen
Wheeler, Rt Hon Sir John
Whitney, Ray
Whittingdale, John
Widdecombe, Ann
Wiggin, Sir Jerry
Wilkinson, John
Willetts, David
Winterton, Mrs Ann (Congleton)
Wood, Timothy
Yeo, Tim
Young, David (Bolton SE)
Young, Rt Hon Sir George
Mr. Patrick McLoughlin and
Mr. Roger Knapman.
'.--It shall be the duty of the BSC to carry out research into the effects on viewers of the level and frequency of images of violence contained in television programmes and into the feasibility and desirability of requiring the installation in all new television sets of an electronic device designed, subject to an override power, automatically to block the reception of programmes whose violent content falls within a predetermined classification as being unsuitable for viewing by persons under the age of eighteen.'.--[Mr. Alton.]
Brought up, and read the First time.
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