HL Deb 30 March 1950 vol 166 cc674-6

4.45 p.m.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTH)

My Lords, I beg to move that the Special Order as reported from the Special Orders Committee on Wednesday, March 22, be approved. In putting this Order before your Lordships, may I first express the regret I feel at the absence of the noble Viscount, Lord Swinton? To discuss films in your Lordships' House in the absence of the noble Viscount is rather like attempting to play Hamlet without the Prince. But I understand that the noble Viscount, Lord Bridgeman, is going to act as his stand-in this afternoon, and that, in some degree, mitigates our loss.

It is now twelve months since I last troubled your Lordships with this rather controversial question of film quotas. Perhaps I should explain that the Cinematograph Films Act of 1948 makes it obligatory for the Board of Trade to present an Order to your Lordships for approval six months before the quota period is due to begin, so as to give the industry notice of their impending liability. The present Order amends the previous Order which was approved in March, 1949, by reducing the quota of first-feature films from 40 per cent. to 30 per cent. The quota for the supporting programme remains unchanged. The simple and sad fact is that the reason why I have to come before your Lordships this afternoon to ask for a reduction in this quota is that there will not be sufficient British films produced in the quota period starting on October 1 next of sufficient quality to enable the higher quota to be fulfilled.

The 1948 Act provides that the Board of Trade shall consult the Cinematograph Films Council and consider their advice in the matter before presenting an Order. Noble Lords will understand that I speak on this subject with some diffidence in the presence of the Chairman of the Films Council, my noble friend Lord Drogheda. In previous years I had to confess that the Films Council were sharply divided in the recommendations they had made. I remember that last year the noble Viscount, Lord Swinton, wanted to know how the representatives on the Council had voted. This year they have achieved a measure of unanimity, for a very large majority recommended the 30 per cent. quota. I think it will be as well if I follow precedent and tell your Lordships how the various sections of the industry voted on this matter. Those in favour of the new quota were the representatives of the producers, distributors and exhibitors, and the three independent members who were present. Those against were the members of the Association of Cine-technicians and the Electrical Trades Union. The abstentions were the representative of the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees (another trade union) and the Chairman of the Council.

Perhaps it would be for your Lordships' convenience if I were now to ask my noble friend to move the adjournment for the Royal Commission, and I will finish my remarks afterwards.

LORD DARWEN

My Lords, I think it would be for your convenience if we adjourned during pleasure.

House adjourned during pleasure.

House resumed.