Cinema Industry (Hansard, 31 March 1960)

§ 45. Mr. Swingler
asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that the declining cinema trade bears the obligations of Entertainments Duty, British quota, production levy, and Sunday charity levy, whereas the expanding television industry, which increasingly exhibits films, bears none of these obligations, if he will set up an inter-departmental committee to consider ways and means of either relieving the cinema trade of these obligations or of spreading them more equitably.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Reginald Mandling)
No, Sir.

§ Mr. Swingler
Will the President of the Board of Trade address himself seriously to this problem? In view of the fact that the decline in the cinema trade is obviously largely due to the rise of television, and in view of the enormous profits being made in television, is it not wholly wrong that a series of statutory impositions should remain on the declining cinema trade when they are not imposed upon the television industry, which competes directly with it in the exhibition of films?

§ Mr. Maudling
Clearly, I cannot comment on fiscal matters. As to the quota, I think the hon. Member was informed recently that the proportion of British film material shown on television is well over the 30 per cent. required from the cinema industry. The hon. Member asked me to appoint an inter-Departmental committee, but, while I think the industry has problems, I do not think the appointment of such a committee would be the best solution.

§ Mr. Swingler
Will the right hon. Gentleman persuade the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Home Secretary and the Postmaster-General, who are responsible for the different matters mentioned 1508 in this Question, to take some action, either to relieve the cinema industry of the statutory obligations, or to impose them on television?

§ Mr. Maudling
The statutory obligations were imposed by Parliament and should remain, but I am grateful at any time for suggestions which will help the cinema industry.

§ Mr. Ronald Bell
If the Chancellor of the Exchequer is not able to give any help to the cinema industry on Monday, will he return to this subject afterwards, because there is a real inequity here between the film industry and television?

§ Mr. Maudling
That seems an even more than usually hypothetical question.