HC Deb 03 April 1958 vol 585 cc1366-7
27. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount received from television films and material exported under the arrangements made for their showing in other countries during 1957, and the cost of such material sent to this country by these countries during the same year.

Mr. Maudling

I regret that separate records are not kept of receipts from the export of television films and other material. The expenditure authorised in 1957 on the import of such material amounted to about £2¼ million.

Mr. Davies

Is not the latter figure very heavy? Does not it have an adverse effect on the balance of payments, as most of these films which are shown on television, many of which are of poor quality, come from the United States and must be paid for in dollars?

Mr. J. Griffiths

We could stop the lot.

Mr. Maudling

While exact records of the export earnings from this material are not kept, I understand that on balance it looks as if there is a slight net addition to the balance of payments.