HC Deb 23 February 1938 vol 332 cc454-6

8.17 p.m.

Captain Wallace

I beg to move, in page 2, line 40, to leave out "or by more than one renter," and to insert: by the same renter or counted by any renter other than the renter who has first acquired the film (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) for distribution in Great Britain. This is a drafting Amendment designed to make it clear that the renter who rents a British film as a renters' quota film cannot pass the quota rights on to another renter if he finds that that film is surplus to his requirements. Otherwise, a situation might arise in which a renter who dealt largely in British films, and had more than enough to meet his obligations in proportion to his foreign films, could pass on certain of his British films to other renters after he had practically exhausted their market among exhibitors.

Amendment agreed to.

8.18 p.m.

Captain Wallace

I beg to move, in page 3, line 3, to leave out "year," and to insert "period."

This is the first of a series of Amendments all of which go together and are drafting Amendments consequential on the change of the renters' quota period from a year to six months except in the first year, when we have allowed renters to satisfy their obligations over the period of 12 months instead of two half-periods of six months.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made:

In page 3, line 8, leave out "year," and insert "period."

In line 9, leave out "period therein," and insert "part thereof."—[Captain Wallace.]

8.22 p.m.

Captain Wallace

I beg to move, in page 3, line 12, at the end, to insert "are registered as foreign films or."

This is a drafting Amendment designed to prevent the circumvention or evasion of Sub-section (2) of the Clause. The Clause as drafted would make it possible for renters to co-operate in such a way that each could confine his distribution of British films to a limited area of the country, so that, under the provisions of the Clause, each renter in turn, by distributing in his own limited area, could count the same British films for quota. That would be entirely contrary to the intention of the Bill. The insertion of these words will make the Sub-section applicable only to renters whose distribution of both British and foreign films is confined to a limited area. Evasion will not then be possible by renters who distribute foreign films throughout the country as a whole, which all the large renters do.

Amendment agreed to.

Consequential Amendments made.

Further Amendment made: In page 3, line 39, leave out "year," and insert "renters' quota period."—[Captain Wallace.]