§ 37. Mr. Hunterasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the amount of money earned by the sale or renting of British films in Europe and the United States of America, respectively, during 1960, and the comparable figures for 1959.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Reginald Maudling)The available information relates to the overseas earnings of British films actually remitted to the United Kingdom in respect of the rents, royalties and sales of rights analysed according to areas from which the currency was received, which are not necessarily the areas in which it was earned. Figures for 1959 are as follows: dollar receipts, £1,064,000; receipts from the member countries of the O.E.E.C., £1,847,000.
§ Mr. HunterDoes the right hon. Gentleman's Department give any assistance to the film industry in renting or selling films in Europe and the United States of America?
§ Mr. MaudlingWe should be very glad to give all the help we can, and I should be happy to follow up any suggestions 480 as to how we could increase these export earnings. I think that the film industry is, in fact, doing very well in exports.
§ Mrs. WhiteWhile that is recognised, does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there are some countries in which we might be doing a good deal more if his Department would assist in overcoming difficulties caused by restrictive quotas and similar conditions which make it difficult for us to obtain a full return on our films?
§ Mr. MaudlingWe are always trying to persuade people overseas to reduce their quotas and other restrictions, but in many countries there are, of course, for various reasons, quite strong balance of payments restrictions.