§ 32. Mr. Swinglerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the statement of his predecessor to the effect that Entertainments Duty on cinemas is not a significant handicap to film exports represents the present policy of his Department.
Mr. AmoryThe statement by my predecessor to which the hon. Member refers seems to me to have been not so such a statement of policy as an assessment of the facts. That assessment still stands.
§ Mr. SwinglerIn that case, would the Chancellor ask his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to submit to him before the Budget a memorandum on the reasons why British film production is now being cut, and being cut in a way that will undoubtedly reduce export earnings next year and the year following? Will he explain to him the part that Entertainments Duty is playing in this decline in the industry?
Mr. AmoryMy right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I are in very close touch on these matters.
§ 33. Mr. J. Edenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will receive a deputation from the Association of Independent Cinemas on the subject of Entertainments Duty.
Mr. AmoryI have asked senior officials of the Customs and Excise who deal with matters concerning Entertainments Duty to receive this deputation on my behalf.
§ Mr. EdenAm I right in saying that my right hon. Friend has already received a deputation from the A.I.T.C., and will he not bear in mind that the A.I.C. itself is very anxious to meet him and the officials of his Department and not, so to speak, be fobbed off and sent to the Customs and Excise? Is he aware that the members themselves think they are in the best position to speak for their own case, which affects the smaller cinemas in particular, and are very anxious indeed to lay their representations before him?
Mr. AmoryOf course, I wish that I were able to receive all these delegations myself, but the All-Industry Tax Committee has been received, on my behalf, by my hon. and learned Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and that Committee, I understand, really does represent the whole of the industry.
§ 34. Mr. Edenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount revenue from Entertainments Duty has fallen in the last three months as a consequence of cinemas having to close.
§ Mr. EdenWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind the Answer given by his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to a Question earlier this afternoon, which indicated the very hard times through which smaller cinemas are going, which may be attributable to the incidence of Entertainments Duty?
§ Mr. ColdrickIn view of the fact that every time there is an increase in Entertainments Duty it is passed on to the public, are we now to assume that if the Duty is removed the full benefit will be appropriated by the cinema people?