§ 45. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister if he will state what is the policy of His Majesty's Government in giving assistance, with officers and other ranks of the fighting forces and the loan and use of ships and materials, to film companies engaged in making war films; what payment is made to the Treasury for such services and assistance; and whether any benefit accrues to the officers and other ranks engaged?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)It is the policy of the Board of Admiralty, the Army Council and the Air Council to give assistance, by way of loan of personnel and material, to approved British film companies engaged in making war films, provided that—
1175 The following financial arrangements have been made with the approval of the Treasury, provisionally and subject to review hereafter in the light of experience.
- (1) the method of production is entirely approved by the Department;
- (2) nothing secret is divulged;
- (3) the films are submitted unconditionally for censorship;
- (4) they involve no undue interference with the normal duties of the personnel concerned;
- (5) any additional expenditure incurred by the Department is repaid by the company;
- (6) a reasonable charge is made to the company for the facilities granted to them, in the form of a fee or a percentage of the profits.
The Admiralty and the Air Ministry appropriate one-half of the profits payable by the company in aid of their respective Votes, the other half being paid to the Departmental Sports Fund, but no payment is made by the company to the naval or Royal Air Force personnel engaged.
The practice of the War Department is different. The whole of any sums received from the company is appropriated in aid of Army Votes; but the Army Council stipulate that the personnel taking part in the production shall, in addition, be paid by the company at current civilian rates when the circumstances justify it.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs this duty, in the case of the naval personnel, at the full option of the officers and men concerned, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great many officers and men object to the Navy being used in this way?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the hon. and gallant Member will put any questions relating to any particular Service to the Minister representing that Service. I have given all the information in my power.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman look into this as a matter of policy, in view of the use to which these films may be put?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACan the right hon. Gentleman say how much money has accrued to the Treasury from this source?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir; I should require notice of that question.
§ Colonel DAYIs it not the fact that the Admiralty have a contract with these different companies to participate in the profits, and has not the right hon. Gentleman the means of giving the House that knowledge? We have asked different Ministers, but none of them will divulge it; does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the House is entitled to have it?
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not much better that the British public should see British ships and British sailors, rather than American ships and American sailors?