HC Deb 11 May 1981 vol 4 cc481-2
25. Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what encouragement his Department currently is giving to independent British film-makers.

Mr. Channon

Within my sphere of responsibility, support for independent British film producers is provided by the production board of the British Film Institute. I am pleased to say that the grant-in-aid to the institute for 1981–82 includes a substantial increase for this work.

Mr. Freud

Is the Minister aware of the extreme difficulty for the private sector of the film industry in getting its films distributed? Will he see whether he can do something to help?

Mr. Channon

That is more a matter for the Secretary of State for Trade. My responsibilities in the film industry are limited. The Department of Trade deals with the film industry as a commercial industry. My responsibilities are limited to the British Film Institute, but I shall draw my right hon. Friend's attention to what the hon. Gentleman has said.

Mr. Cryer

Will the right hon. Gentleman encourage independent film production in this country by making more money available to the BFI? Will he accept that his responsibility is not entirely separate from that of the Department of Trade and encourage his colleagues in that Department to make more money available to the National Film Finance Corporation? Will he also bring pressure to bear on television companies to help independent feature film production here?

Mr. Channon

The matters that the hon. Gentleman raises are partly the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, and I shall mention them to him. The British Film Institute has set a net budget for the production board of about £700,000 this year, which will permit about six low budget feature films and eight low budget experimental films to be made, which is a step forward.

Mr. Faulds

Will the right hon. Gentleman discuss with his colleagues in the Department of Trade, first, the nonsense that films are placed in that Department? Secondly, will he discuss the need to fund British film-making by imposing a levy on the televising of feature films, which would be an easy way to bring funds to the film industry?

Mr. Channon

I shall certainly discuss the first matter, but, unfortunately, so far the allocation of Government responsibilities is not among my duties. The second part of the hon. Gentleman's question is a matter for the Secretary of State for Trade, and I shall discuss it with him.