§ 10. Mr. Swinglerasked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the continued decline of the cinema trade, the importance of maintaining British film production, the dominating positions of the two major circuits, and the need to counteract monopolistic tendencies in the industry, he will convene a representative conference of persons engaged in the production, distribution, renting, and exhibition of films to discuss the establishment 400 of an additional and effective national circuit of cinemas which would offer producers, independent exhibitors and the public a greater variety of choice.
§ Mr. ErrollNo, Sir. Should my right hon. Friend be asked by the representative organisations in the industry to convene a conference he will of course consider the request.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are very few representative organisations left in the industry and that, if it goes on being streamlined any further, there will be only one? Is he aware of the considerable problem which now exists in that, because of the closure of cinemas and the rationalisation of the cinema trade, a handful of men can kill any film produced by the simple method of refusing it a circuit booking? Does he not know of the complaints by producers about this more or less monopolistic state of affairs and has he no responsibility to do something about it?
§ Mr. ErrollThere is a substantial degree of competition between the two circuits, for a start. Despite the decline in the number of cinemas, British film production has remained at about the present level for some time, so that plenty of British films are being produced and are being successfully shown.