47. Mr. Wilson Harrisasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will now make available the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the future of the British Film Institute; and state whether the Government accept its recommendations.
§ The Lord President of the Council (Mr. Herbert Morrison)Yes, Sir. I am making available to Members in the Vote Office this afternoon the Report of the Committee, under Sir Cyril Radcliffe's chairmanship, which considered the future of the British Film Institute. The Government are much obliged to the Committee for this prompt and unanimous Report and accept the recommendations contained in it, subject to two reservations. First, the Government do not feel that in present circumstances the extra commitment involved in setting up regional offices for the British Film Institute could be justified. Second, the Government cannot commit themselves to 2000 the figure of annual expenditure given in the Report, and the question how much financial assistance should be provided must remain open until a detailed budget has been drawn up by the Institute and accepted by the Treasury.
§ Mr. CrawleyIn view of the fact that the main object of the Institute is to improve the status of film production and film appreciation, can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that this will mean an expansion of the activities of the Institute and not a contraction?
§ Mr. MorrisonThere will be some expansion, but one must keep a proper standard of economy in mind.