§ 16 and 17. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if his attention has been drawn to recent transactions involving the sale or lease of film studios at Beaconsfield, Wembley, and Southall; and if he will take action to stop any further loss of studio space to the British film industry, pending an 1256 inquiry into the adequacy of existing studios for the production of films to maintain the first-feature and supporting programme quotas;
(2) what action he is taking to implement his previous policy of maintaining the availability of medium-sized and small film studios for the production of films for the supporting programme quota, in view of the increasing competition of commercial television companies for such studios.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe purchase, sale, lease, or erection of film studios is a matter for the parties concerned.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs it not a part of the Minister's job to uphold British film quotas and, therefore, to safeguard the production resources of the industry? Is not the Minister too complacent about the present state of production in the industry? Is he aware that practically no medium-sized or small studios are now left? How can independent producers continue to exist? Will the right hon. Gentleman urgently investigate the position and report upon it?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI must make it plain that I have no responsibility for the erection or sale of individual film studios. The Government's policy for the film industry is carried out on a much broader basis.
§ Mr. SwinglerHow can the British film industry expand and produce films for the quota as the Minister desires unless some action is taken to keep the studios in the hands of the industry and prevent them from passing to other kinds of production?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAssistance to the film industry is given on a broader basis, by means of the quota requirements, the N.F.F.C., the Eady Levy, and things of that kind.