24. Mrs. Whiteasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cinemas he estimates will benefit from his proposal to raise the population for the rural area exemption limit from 2,000 to 3,000.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftBetween 40 and 50.
Mrs. WhiteAs this is the only gesture made by the Chancellor towards the small cinemas, does he not think it is rather inadequate, and has he taken into account the possibility of increasing the population density as well as the total number in the area?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI think it is a contribution to include genuinely rural areas, but if we extend it much further we shall get away from rural areas into small urban districts as well, which is not the main purpose of this exemption.