§ 51. Mr. DUNCANasked the Lord President of the Council whether the Cinematograph Fund, authorised by Section 2 of the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, has been set up; if so, how many licensing authorities pay into the fund; and what was the total income in 1933, 1934 and 1935?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)In accordance with the Regulations made under the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, payments into the Cinematograph Fund began to accrue from 1st February, 1933. Contributions are now being paid from every licensing authority which grants licences for Sunday opening under the Act; such licensing authorities, at the present time, number 126. The total amounts paid into the fund during the years 1933, 1934 and 1935 were £3,367, 27,620 and £9,117 respectively.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELIs my right hon. Friend aware that there was a specific recommendation made this year or last year upon these particular payments, in the report of the Public Accounts Committee, and is it being carried out?
§ Mr. MacDONALDAs I have answered several times, the whole matter is under review at the present moment.
§ Sir A. M. SAMUELIs not my right hon. Friend aware that the matter does not call for much further examination in view of the fact that the Public Accounts Committee have definitely recommended a line of action to meet a general weakness in the method in various localities of carrying out the provisions of the Act respecting the payments into the fund?