§ 25. Mr. Cooperasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the basis on which the decision was made to allocate supplies of raw materials for gramophone records recently ordered by the American publishers, caused by the pending strike of the American Musicians Union announced for 1st December; and what is the quantity of the annual production at the present time of records being manufactured in this country from the present shellac allocation required for the issue of recordings made by British artistes of British copyright songs and music.
§ Mr. H. WilsonRaw materials for gramophone records are in free supply and there is no system of allocation. The first part of the Question does not therefore arise. No separate figures are available to show the production of recordings made by British artistes of British copyright songs and music.
§ Mr. CooperIf there is any intention to make raw materials available for gramophone records for export in the future on account of the suggestions made in the Question, would he see if it is possible to persuade purchasers to accept British compositions on one side so as to earn royalties for export purposes as well as for raw materials?
§ Mr. WilsonThere is no question of making an allocation of raw materials available for they are a free supply, but I will be glad to take up the second suggestion made by my hon. Friend.