asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have sponsored any film which features suicide; and what is their assessment of government-sponsored films on suicide. [HL6086]

Of the 128 feature films funded by the UK Film Council via its lottery funds, the following releases have, in some fashion, depicted suicide: Sylvia (2003), Control (2007) and WAZ (2007) .

The UKFC makes funding decisions based on the creative, cultural and innovative merits of the production. In addition to this, any film in receipt of funding from the government-backed UK Film Council is also required to satisfy the qualification requirements of the British Board of Film Classification for a certificate no more restrictive than “18”.

The BBFC has specific guidelines on depicting imitative techniques and would require cuts to any films in order to remove instructive detail on suicide.