Children's Film Foundation Limited

HC Deb 26 January 1960 vol 616 cc2-3

2. Mr. Dugdale

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of grant given each year to the Children's Film Foundation.

Mr. J. Rodgers

No grant is made to the Children's Film Foundation Limited from public funds. Under the provisions of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1957, the British Film Fund Agency, with the approval of the Board of Trade, may make payments to the Children's Film Foundation Limited out of moneys realised from the levy imposed on cinema exhibitors for the benefit of British film production. In each of the last three years proposals for payments to the Children's Film Foundation Limited of sums amounting to £125,000 have been approved.

Mr. Dugdale

Does the Minister think it right that when a community association applies for a grant for a particular film to be shown it should be told that that film cannot be shown unless the agreement has been obtained of all the cinema exhibitors within a radius of three miles? Have the children to have only second-class films because the film exhibitors do not wish them to see the better-class films?

Mr. Rodgers

I am aware of the difficulty with regard to West Bromwich Community Centre, but the Foundation must operate commercially like any other part of the film industry. The booking manager tries to be as helpful as possible in suggesting alternative titles to films which are not available.

Mr. Dugdale

They are not available because the industry does not allow them to be shown.