British Board of Film Classification (Accountability to Parliament and Appeals) Bill

The hon. Gentleman reminds me that it is all to do with Johnny Depp, a film star who is adored by my wife; I say that as we have been on the subject of the family for so much of this debate. As local authorities do not have jurisdiction over video games, an appeals process—the video appeals committee—is in place. I can tell my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury that we support a review of how the committee works, because there is a feeling that the committee exists for the benefit of the video games industry. If the BBFC gives a video game a high rating, the video games industry, acting perfectly within its rights, can come along with an expensive QC and try to get the rating lowered. That is exactly what happened with ““Manhunt 2””; the BBFC is now seeking a judicial review to try to reverse the VAC's decision. It seems that there is very little scope for members of the public to use that appeals mechanism to upgrade a video game's rating, or even to ban it.