HL Deb 18 March 1948 vol 154 cc963-4

2.40 p.m.

Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.

LORD TEYNHAM

My Lords, I have one thing to say on this Bill, which I regard as an excellent Bill. I should like to ask the noble Viscount, Lord Hall, whether he can give me an assurance that the remission of the ad valorem duty on American films will not result in a lower quota of British films under the Bill.

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, during the Committee stage of this Bill I ventured to raise two points which received the sympathy of my noble friend Viscount Hall. The first point had regard to the cost test, and the second to the position of the supporting film producers in relation to a percentage of the box office takings. My noble friend undertook to discuss both subjects with his right honourable friend the President of the Board of Trade, since time was the essence of the contract in both, one having to be referred to the new Films Council and the second to the Committee of Inquiry. May I ask my noble friend whether he has been able to consult with his right honourable friend and, if so, with what result? Will the new Films Council be set up without delay, and can the Committee of Inquiry now commence their duties?

VISCOUNT HALL

My Lords, I can give the noble Lord, Lord Teynham, a categorical assurance that there is no question of there being a lower quota than would have been fixed but for the recent American agreement. I would like to inform my noble friend, Lord Lucas, that I did have a conversation with the President of the Board of Trade upon the two points which he raised, and my right honourable friend was still of the opinion that it would be much better to refer the question of the cost test to the new Films Council. Once the legislation is through, the new Films Council will be formed. The noble Lord was quite right in his view that the Committee of Inquiry could not be appointed until there had been some understanding between my right honourable friend and the American industry. As we now know, that agreement has been published, and I have been given an assurance that the Committee of Inquiry for which he asked will be set up as soon as possible.

LORD TEYNHAM

I am grateful to the noble Viscount for the assurance he has given about the quota for British films.

On Question, Bill read 3a, with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.