HL Deb 07 March 1994 vol 552 cc1240-2

3.1 p.m.

The Viscount of Falkland asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in view of the number of British nominations for this year's US Film Academy Awards, they will consider ways of providing greater support for British cinema.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I am sure that your Lordships will join me in wishing huge success to all the British nominees at the Academy Awards ceremony on 21st March. As I said in your Lordships' House on 4th November 1993, earlier that year my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage held a round of meetings with all sectors of the film industry. He is evaluating the proposal which emerged from the consultations and will announce his conclusions in due course.

The Viscount of Falkland

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that encouraging reply. Is she aware that against a national background of rising cinema attendances— which this year will be nearly double what it was in the early 1980s— Britain has only been able to make a relatively small number of films? Most of those have been on a small budget because of the difficulties of raising finance here. Will the Minister further agree that in order for us to share in the profits from the increasing cinema attendances we need to make more entertainment films with higher budgets? Has her department any plans to assist in that endeavour?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, since 1985 the UK production base has been shrinking, with fewer films made and with those films on average having smaller budgets. We are exploring the reasons for that and the need for, and feasibility of, additional measures aimed at raising the level of investment in films.

Viscount Mersey

My Lords, will my noble friend give the British film industry a welcome boost by imposing a levy on feature films that are shown on British television?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, we prefer to see the private sector in vesting in films on a voluntary basis.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, will the noble Baroness say a little more about the exploration which she says is going on? Who is doing the exploring? Is it set up on any formal basis and will it report? Can she tell the House a little more about it?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I do not believe that I can tell your Lordships more until it has actually been done.

Lord Elis-Thomas

My Lords, in view of the remarkable success of the Welsh language film "Hedd Wyn" in being nominated for an Academy Award, will the Minister consider what further funds can be made available for the development of that aspect of the British cinema?

Baroness Trumpington

Excuse me, my Lords, what aspect?

Lord Elis-Thomas

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister is aware that the Welsh language film "Hedd Wyn'', originally commissioned by S4C, has been nominated in the foreign film category for an award.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, if only I knew how to say "Good luck" in Welsh, I would.

Lord Dormand of Easington

My Lords, does the Minister recall the well-publicised meeting which the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Thatcher, had at No.10 with leaders of the British film industry? They thought that that was a positive step forward. What has happened to the proposals? Are we to expect much more from the present Secretary of State when the Prime Minister's proposals appear to have run into the sand?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, they have not run into the sand at all. Much progress has been achieved. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has introduced changes: in the tax regime for film, following discussions with the industry. We have set up the British Film Commission and joined Eurimages. We have established the European Co-Production Fund and recently announced funding of £ 2 million annually for a further three years.

Lord Donoughue

My Lords, clearly we have great artistic talent in the film world and lack proper financing. Will the Minister also say something about film distribution? Is she aware that the United States has a monopoly stranglehold on the distribution of films in this country which makes it difficult for any British-made films to gain profitable entry into the distribution circuits? Would it not be wise to take measures in that respect? Will the Government consider taking the US distributors to the European Commission and, following the French example with GATT, doing something to defend European culture?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the French did not get it all their own way. In the end it proved impossible to reconcile the strong opposing interests either side of the Atlantic. The EC made no commitments on audio-visual services, but equally it secured no changes to the services text to recognise the special nature of the sector.