§ Mr. Hardmanasked the Minister of Information the number of officers and clerical staff, excluding driver - projectionists and service engineers, employed in each regional office on the organisation of Government films.
§ Mr. E. J. WilliamsThe number of clerical and higher staff, excluding driver-projectionists and service engineers, employed in each regional office of the Ministry of Information on the exhibition of Government documentary films is as follows (counting as halves staff who devote only part of their time to this work):
Region No. Northern … 4 North Eastern … 5 North Midland … 4½ Eastern … 4½ London and South Eastern … 6 Southern … 5 South Western … 6 Wales … 5 Midland … 5 North Western … 6 Scotland … 4 Northern Ireland … 1½
§ Mr. Hardmanasked the Minister of Information whether, in view of the large number of admirable specialised films that his Department have produced and are producing at substantial cost, he will consider augmenting the regional staff so as to ensure that the best results are obtained in showing the films to the public.
§ Mr. E. J. WilliamsMy ban. Friend will appreciate that there is still a general shortage of manpower, but the showing of these specialised films is already given a high priority, and each region has a films officer with a competent staff to assist him.
§ Mr. Hardmanasked the Minister of Information whether he is aware of the unsatisfactory and inadequate technical equipment being used by the regional staffs; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy these defects and thereby ensure the best results in the showing of films.
§ Mr. E. J. WilliamsThe equipment used for the showing of Ministry of Information films was the best obtainable in 649W this country at the time of its installation. Now that British manufacturers of 16 m.m. film projectors are freed from the pressure of war contracts this Ministry and the Ministry of Supply are doing everything in their power to assist the production of equipment which will compare favourably with any in the world.
§ Mr. Hardmanasked the Minister of Information the average number of film shows organised in each regional office during the month of March, 1945.
§ Mr. E. J. WilliamsThe total number of film shows given in all Regions during March, 1945, was 5,634, divided among the Regions as follows:
Northern … 349 North Eastern … 555 North Midland … 472 Eastern … 305 London and S. Eastern … 552 Southern … 337 S. Western … 440 Western … 465 Midland … 621 N. Western … 865 Scotland … 590 N. Ireland … 83