HC Deb 21 March 1938 vol 333 c834
36. Mr. Day

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give particulars of the results of any financial bookings, or the profits derived therefrom, on the films taken over by his Department from the Empire Marketing Board; whether his Department also took over the arrangement whereby the board's cinema officer received a salary of £1,200 a year and 5 per cent. of the net profits on these films; and what is being done by his Department for the exhibition of such films at the present time?

Major Tryon

The receipts by the Post Office in respect of the films taken over from the Empire Marketing Board amount to about £60. In recent years these films have been mainly circulated through the Empire Film Library at the Imperial Institute. From time to time some of them are also included in Post Office film display programmes. The board's cinema officer transferred his services to the Post Office at a salary of £900. I am not aware of any profit-sharing arrangement existing at the time of the transfer and certainly none existed thereafter.

Mr. Day

Have any arrangements been made to show these films in the Colonies and Dominions?

Major Tryon

Perhaps the hon. Member will put that question down.