§ 17. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade how many first feature films were under production in Britain at the latest date for which figures are available; how this compares with the number under production a year and two years ago, respectively; and if he is satisfied that production is sufficient to enable the present quota to be maintained.
§ from which countries these imports will come.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftAs the Answer involves a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate in it the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Major Legge-BourkeI am sure that my hon. Friends will consider these figures most carefully. Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that there is concern in certain parts of the country, particularly in my constituency, at the slow take-up of the present strawberry crop due to the build-up of the old crop and the prospect of too many imports which would depress the price to the home grower?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI believe it to be pulp made of strawberries used for jam making.
§ Following is the Answer:
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftNo record of films under production is kept. First-feature film quotas were fixed on the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council, and I see no reason to doubt this advice.
§ Mr. SwinglerWill not the President make some inquiries into the position? Is not he aware that figures have been published recently in the cinema trade 1521 Press showing a serious drop in film production, and also that some companies are taking their films out of the country because of the lack of studio facilities owing to so many studios having gone out of business? Will he not make some inquiries, because this trend would seriously jeopardise the maintenance of the quota system?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI am making a number of inquiries at the moment into the whole question of film policy, as the hon. Member knows, and I should prefer not to add to my answer at the present moment.