§ 2.43 p.m.
§ Lord Gainford asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ By how much their funding of the cinema industry is likely to increase by 1991 and whether they are satisfied with the state of the industry.
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, under the provisions of the Films Act 1985 the Government support the film industry through payments to British Screen Finance Limited. Annual sums of £1.5 million for feature film production and £500,000 for script development and short film production are available for the five-year period beginning 1st January 1986. The Government maintain the view that current economic conditions offer a sound framework for the British film industry to operate successfully on a commercial basis.
§ Lord GainfordMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Has he any information about how the 872 cinema industry is progressing by way of attendances?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, I am sure my noble friend and other noble Lords will be pleased to know that there has been a substantial upturn during recent years in the fortunes of the cinema business. After a consistent decline for a number of years to a low of 53 million cinema admissions in 1984, the figure rose steadily to 75 million in 1987, and 1988 looks set to register a further rise.
§ Lord Dormand of EasingtonMy Lords, will the Minister confirm that the Films Act 1985, to which he referred, reduced considerably governmental assistance to the British film industry and that this has had an adverse effect? Does he not agree that although British film makers are among the best in the world the industry is suffering? One has only to look at the awards made last night to see that the British film industry consistently gains international awards. Is it not time for a whole re-think of the financial support to an industry that pays great dividends?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, we had a re-think in 1985. The film industry is doing extremely well. There have been a number of recent critical successes—"The Mission", "Wish You Were Here", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and many others, made either with British money or with British expertise which is renowned throughout the world.
The Viscount of FalklandMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that from the film makers' point of view, London is now one of the most difficult places in which to get the necessary permission for location work? This deters film makers for whom locations are as important as studio facilities. Is there any way the Government can provide some guidance to local authorities so as to achieve some uniformity of response to film makers?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, I suspect that that is a question for local authorities. I shall however take note of it and ask my noble friend the Secretary of State to look at it.
§ Lord PestonMy Lords, can the noble Lord say how much of the British film industry is British in the sense of being owned and financed by British people? Is it not overwhelmingly foreign-financed? Is not one reason for that the less than generous tax advantages given in this country for film production?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, I cannot give the noble Lord any figures on ownership of the film industry in Britain by foreigners or British nationals. On the question of tax incentives, I do not believe that it is for the Government to make this country particularly attractive to films. That must be based on commercial necessities decided by film makers themselves.
The Viscount of OxfuirdMy Lords, can my noble friend give some indication of the export returns we 873 receive from the cinema industry and its attendant technologies?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, the film industry's exports remain at a high level and reached £264 million in 1987,25 per cent. up on the previous year. Likewise, exports of television programmes have shown a welcome overall increase in recent years; they amounted to £118 million in 1987.
§ Lord Graham of EdmontonMy Lords, the Minister says that it is not up to the Government but up to the industry to look after itself. Why do not the Government take into account the support other countries give to their indigenous film industries? Is not the Minister concerned about imports of second-rate and rubbishy films which fill our screens and are shown on television when considered in the light of developments in the film industry?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, I believe that it must be up to the consumer to decide what he wants to watch on his television screen. Therefore, if people want to watch second-rate films that is up to them. The British film industry makes some extremely good films£
§ Lord Graham of EdmontonThen why not support them?
§ Lord Strathclyde£which are supported in a minor way. Other countries have problems because they wish to support their own languages. We do not need to do that because English is world-renowned.
§ Lord PestonMy Lords, may I take the Minister back to his answer to the previous question but one? Was he saying that we are running a positive balance of payments surplus on film and television activities? I heard him quote the export figures. Can he quote the import figures and the differences between the two?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, I am not able to do so at the present time. I shall write to the noble Lord and let him know.
§ Baroness WhiteMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us whether he makes any distinction between the English language and American?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, for the sake of today I believe that any film which is made in Britain for export is in the English language and that any imported from America is American.
§ Lord Stoddart of SwindonMy Lords, if the noble Lord tells us that the British people are those who decide what is seen on their televisions screens, what is the purpose of the Rees-Mogg commission?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, that is an entirely different question. There are organisations which oversee what is shown on television as regards obscenity and so forth—for example, the British Board of Film Classification, local authorities and, ultimately, the courts.
§ Lord MarleyMy Lords, is the Minister aware that a recent British film, "A Fish Called Wanda", has won two important awards? Should not note be taken of that?
§ Lord StrathclydeMy Lords, I am delighted that the noble Lord has brought that to our attention.