§ 31. Sir PHILIP DAWSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can give the amount realised by the duties on foreign films during last year; and whether he will consider raising the import duty to 8d. per negative foot which is the duty imposed by Australia?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAAs regards the first part of the question, the revenue derived from the duty on exposed cinematograph films imported from foreign countries during the year ended 31st December, 1933, was approximately £94,000; as regards the second part, the relevant considerations in regard to this duty, in common with other Customs duties, are brought under review in connection with the Budget.
§ 39. Sir P. DAWSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the amount of film which was imported during the last year from the United States of America and the amount imported from other countries, also the amount produced in Great Britain; and the amount paid for the hire of films to the United States of America and other foreign countries during the year?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)Such figures as are available regarding imports of films and production in this country would furnish no basis for comparison. The only comparable figures relate to registrations of British and foreign films under the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927, and the footages of such films registered in 1933 are as follow:
| British films (including 69,777 feet made overseas in the British Empire) | … | 1,202,197 |
| United States films | … | 3,583,428 |
| Other foreign films | … | 190,067 |
§ Certain films, such as news reels and educational and scientific films are not required to be registered and no information is available as to the relative amounts produced and imported.
§ Precise information regarding the payments made abroad in respect of film royalties is not available but the amount for 1933 was probably of the order of £6,000,000, this sum being mostly payable to the United States.