§ 4. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any further information with regard to the proposals of the members of the cinematograph industry for the encouragement of the production and exhibition of British cinematograph films; whether he has yet received any Report from the industry; if so, what is its nature; and whether he has any proposals to make himself for such encouragement to British cinemas?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)I have just received this morning the Report of the Joint Trade Committee, and have not yet been able to consider it in detail. I regret, however, that the Report shows that the various sections in the cinema trade are unable to put forward agreed proposals. As already stated in the House, it is proposed that the whole question should be discussed at the Imperial Conference.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill the right lion. Gentleman place a copy of the Report on the Table of the House, and can he say whether he will be in a position, when we reassemble in November, to state his intentions?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI do not think it would be in accordance with precedent to lay the Report on the Table of the House, but I am quite willing to have a copy placed in the Library. Obviously it will be quite impossible for me to make a statement of policy until we have discussed the matter at the Imperial Conference, but I think I should, perhaps, say this: All sections of the trade have known for months past that the Government would have to consider the desirability of legislation, either if the trade recommended agreed proposals; or in default of such agreement. That being so, I think it right to 2778 say that in the event of the Government introducing legislation they must not be held to be precluded from making that legislation effective, notwithstanding any trade arrangements which might have been made with a view to nullifying its effect.
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINIs the right hon. Gentleman going to make any effort to get the trade to come to an agreement before the Imperial Conference?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERNo, Sir. I have been trying for six months to get the three sections of this trade to come to an agreement, and there arc a number of people in it who have made every effort to get agreement. They have now made a, report saying they have failed to come to an agreement, and I do not think I can usefully stimulate them further.
§ Colonel DAYWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is not a fact that in his public utterances recently he has promised to bring in legislation to govern this industry?
§ 10. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the approximate proportion of British films per hundred shown on the screens in this country; and what proportion of the remainder are productions of America?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI have no exact information, but I think the trade estimates that about 3 per cent. to 5 per cent. of the films shown in this country are British, and about 95 per cent. of the remainder American.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINIs not this question serious enough to take immediate action?
§ Colonel DAYCan the right lion. Gentleman say what proportion come from France, Italy and Germany?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERPerhaps if I had notice I might be able to make some inquiries, but obviously I could not say without notice.