§ 11. Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what funds his Department has made available to the British film industry in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. BrookeI repeat the health warning that I gave earlier in my answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones). Government expenditure on film was £15.6 million in 1989–90; £16.7 million in 1990–91; £19.6 million in 1991–92; and £22 million in 1992–93. Provision for film expenditure in the current financial year is set at £24.4 million.
§ Mr. AingerI am sure that the Secretary of State would wish to join me in congratulating the six English, Welsh and Irish actors who have been nominated for an academy award this year and in welcoming the nomination of "Hedd Wyn", which was produced in Wales, as the best foreign language film. Does he accept that that success is in spite of, not because of, Government policy and that there has been a significant reduction in investment in film since 1984—from £270 million to £189 million in 1992? Will he now persuade, cajole or do what he can to get his right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to improve massively the capital allowance that is given to the film industry?
§ Mr. BrookeAs a man whose blood is half Welsh—appearances to the contrary notwithstanding—I join the hon. Gentleman in congratulating "Hedd Wyn" on its achievement. I am conscious of the state of the film industry in the past 10 years. That is why I set up the review and listened to the views of the film industry. I hope that we will be able to respond to it in the not-too-distant future.
§ Mr. CorbettAlthough we all rejoice in the brilliance and style of recent films such as "Shadowlands" and "The Remains of the Day", the Secretary of State will be aware that British investment in British films, and the jobs and profits that that can bring to the industry in this country, could be much more. I urge him, now that we have had these consultations, which we welcome, to put quickly on the table what he proposes to do to help the British film industry, to build on the success that it is trying to achieve, and to do even better in the future.
§ Mr. BrookeI am delighted that the hon. Gentleman paid tribute to the success of the films that he mentioned. I join him in that. The review that we have been conducting is necessarily one in which other Departments are involved, as the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Ainger) implied. Therefore, others, besides myself, must participate in our conclusions.