HL Deb 12 April 1949 vol 161 cc1076-8

2.37 p.m.

VISCOUNT SWINTON

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Government are precluded from imposing a film quota upon renters. If the Government are now so precluded, when will the prohibition end? If the prohibition is contained in an International Agreement, what are the terms of that Agreement, and in what circumstances and for what reason was the Agreement made?]

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, the Geneva Tariff Agreement, which His Majesty's Government are at present provisionally applying, and also the Havana Charter for an International Trade Organisation, which has not yet entered into force nor been accepted by His Majesty's Government, both contain a clause providing that film quotas shall take the form of exhibitors' quotas only. This clause will be binding on His Majesty's Government at any time at which either of these instruments is in force in its present form and His Majesty's Government are parties to it. It was accepted by His Majesty's Government as part of the overall bargain reached in the Geneva trade negotiations in the autumn of 1947, in the light of the following considerations: First, the fact that the British Film Producers' Association and the Film Industry Employees' Council had already represented that the abolition of the renters' quota would be desirable in the interests of British film production; second, the fact that, during the course of the Geneva negotiations, the principal American film companies gave an undertaking that, so long as they were sending over new American films to this country, they would continue to make films in the United Kingdom at the rate previously contemplated; and third, the advantage to British film exports of an undertaking by other countries not to introduce renters' quotas.

VISCOUNT SWINTON

My Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Lord for that full answer. Arising out of it may I ask him this question? Is it not a fact that to-day both the trade unions in the production industry and the cinematograph exhibitors are strongly opposed to the abolition of the renters' quota? The noble Lord has also stated that part of the consideration was that American films would be produced here in increasing quantities. May I ask him whether that part of the consideration has been implemented?

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, in reply to the noble Viscount's first question, I may say that I have no knowledge of the facts which he has stated. Secondly, it is true that until just under a year ago the undertaking given by the American film producers was in abeyance: after the interruption of imports which followed our imposition of the duty in August, 1947, imports of new American films were not resumed until last May. Since then the plans of the American companies for making films in British studios have not in every case borne fruit as quickly as we, and they, would have wished.

VISCOUNT SWINTON

In view of that statement and of the attitude of the majority in the industry which has been expressed by Mr. O'Brien (who, I take it, speaks for the trade union), will the Government give an assurance that if and when our commitments in this respect expire they will not be renewed without reference to Parliament?

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

My Lords, with regard to the latter part of the noble Viscount's question, I can add nothing further to the full statement which was made upon that subject by my noble friend the Leader of the House on Tuesday, March 2, 1948, in reply to a question put to him by the noble Viscount himself.

LORD HAWKE

Then do we understand that His Majesty's Government intend to carry on these matters in future without the knowledge of Parliament?

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

I would refer the noble Lord to the statement made by my noble friend the Leader of the House, which fully explains the point he has raised.

VISCOUNT SWINTON

I was not going to ask another supplementary question, but in view of that answer might I ask whether it is not the fact that, whereas an undertaking was given that the Havana Charter would not be ratified without Parliamentary approval, the Geneva arrangement was ratified by the Government without any such approval?

LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH

Again, perhaps the noble Viscount will do me the honour of reading my noble friend's statement, which dealt with the point he raises. The circumstances today remain exactly as they were when my noble friend made that statement.

VISCOUNT SWINTON

I cannot deny that.