§ 44. Mr. DAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any complaints from companies or persons interested in the production of British talking films to the effect that the methods and apparatus that are being employed by the foreign manufacturers of talking pictures are such as to defeat the provisions contained in the Cinematograph Films Act; and is he prepared to set up a committee to inquire as to whether further or amending legislation is necessary?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not, therefore, arise.
§ 60. Mr. MANDERasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take at the present juncture to secure in this country the establishment of the multi-lingual talking-film industry, in view of the special advantages existing in this country as against the United States of America?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMFilms in more than one language are already being made in this country, and I fear it would be difficult, even if it were necessary, to promise any special support on behalf of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the right hon. Gentleman be willing to receive representations from hon. Members in different parts of the House who are interested in this question?
§ Mr. GRAHAMOh, certainly.
§ Mr. GRAHAMI should like notice of that question.
§ 84. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether his Department has received any reports from their representative in the United States of America with reference to propaganda value for the purposes of export trade of American films; if so, what is the purport of these reports; and what steps it is proposed to take to obtain similar advantages for British industry by the same means?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The Commercial Counsellor at Washington reported in July, 1929, that a special Motion Picture Division had been created in the United States Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce to promote sales abroad of films made in the United States of America. This step was taken in recognition of the importance of the world trade in American films as an indirect advertising medium for American goods in general. The whole question of the propaganda value of British films for the purposes of export trade is under consideration.