Silent Minority is a 1981 British documentary film made by Nigel Evans for ATV which aired in June 1981[1] on ITV.
Evans had been granted access to the facilities and was allowed to shoot individual patients only if he obtained consent of their family members.
These officials granted that the film footage was accurate, but complained that the narration was not, thus resulting in ATV modifying the commentary.
Objections were raised based upon Health Ministry statements that the film presented a slanted viewpoint, but there was a concession that even if the film's examples were not typical, it was believed that they were "unlikely to be the only exceptions to an otherwise admirable system" and, even if atypical, that they exist at all "is a matter of grave concern."
[6] Controversy about the film reached the British Parliament, with questions in the House addressed to Norman Fowler, Secretary of State for Social Services.