HC Deb 18 November 1948 vol 458 cc549-50
25. Mr. Wyatt

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make on his Department's intention with regard to a Government-owned film studio.

Mr. H. Wilson

Yes, Sir. The Report of the Film Studio Committee was published today by His Majesty's Stationery Office, and copies are now available at the Vote Office. I am most grateful to Sir George Gater and his colleagues for the Report they have submitted to me. The upshot of their recommendations is that the Government should not embark upon the provision of additional studio space in any form without being satisfied that its continuous employment in production can be guaranteed by means of an efficient organisation of independent or, as the Committee prefer to call them, free-lance producers. The Committee also point out that at the present time independent or free-lance production is not being hampered in any way by lack of studio space.

I have decided that in these circumstances it would not be expedient at the present time for the Government to build or acquire a State-owned or State-managed studio. The Committee, however, suggest that the Government might consider, as an alternative method of providing additional studio space, the possibility of granting facilities for the erection of an additional stage or stages at existing studios, on condition of their being made available to free-lance producers. I think this suggestion is a good one, and in considering proposals of this kind I shall have regard not only to the claims of independent production but also to the possibility of introducing improvements in production technique.

Mr. W. Shepherd

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that so long as there is a vast amount of studio space unused he will not go to the ex- pense and trouble of wasting labour and material in erecting further stages?

Mr. Wilson

I think that was implied in my answer. It is a fact that no freelance producer or any other producer is held up at the present time by lack of studio space, although I would not commit myself not to grant facilities, if this could be done, for people to build a studio, particularly if it could embody some of the latest ideas in studio production technique.

Mr. Wyatt

Will my right hon. Friend give an equivalent undertaking to the effect that he will approach the film industry in regard to a reduction of the rentals of privately-owned studios?

Mr. Wilson

Yes, Sir. If there is any evidence produced before me that studio charges are excessive, I shall be very glad to go into it with the film industry.