§ 32. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of cinemas which have been closed in each of the last five years; and what proportion the total forms of the number of cinemas in operation five years ago.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonThe numbers for the years 1955 to 1959 are 93, 224, 216, 263 and 489 respectively. The total of 1,285 represents some 28 per cent. of the number of cinemas open at the 31st December, 1954. Forty-three new cinemas opened and 149 cinemas reopened in these five years, giving a net reduction overall of 24 per cent.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhile welcoming the fact that there has been some improvement in the cinema trade recently, may I ask if the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that these closures have obviously tended to confirm monopolistic tendencies in the proprietorship of the cinema trade of the country? What inquiries is the Board of Trade making into the monopolistic tendencies which are so much stronger?
§ Mr. MacphersonThat is an entirely different question. We have the industry very closely under review the entire time.