§ 23. Mr. DAYasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of linear 1542 feet of positive and negative cinematograph films consigned from the United States of America imported into Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date, and the declared value of these films; and whether he has any statistics that will show separately the amount of linear feet of talking films that were included in this total?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Herbert Williams)The total imports of positive and negative cinematograph films into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, registered as consigned from the United States of America during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1929, were as follow: Positives, 11,162,000 linear feet, valued at £64,000; and negatives, 3,512,000 linear feet, valued at £762,000. Particulars of talking films are not available.
§ Mr. DAYIs it not possible for the hon. Gentleman to find out what the importation of talking films is, and to ascertain whether talking films are not far outdistancing silent films?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAt present they are not separately classified; the documents which the Customs officials handle do not show separately which are talking films and which are silent films. The question whether there should be a different classification, when the classification is revised at the beginning of the year, is under consideration.