Colonel A. Evansasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, before offering apparatus to cinemas throughout the country in order that they can show slides announcing changes in rationing, new registrations and other matters, it was ascertained whether cinemas were already in possession of such apparatus, which costs approximately £40; how many apparatus have been ordered by the Ministry for distribution to cinemas; how many have been distributed to cinemas which already possessed such apparatus; and whether the full requirements were ascertained from the Cinema Exhibitors' Association before orders were placed with the manufacturers?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe hon. and gallant Member's Question is based on misapprehension. No apparatus of the type mentioned has been offered to cinemas. Exhibitors have however been offered a folding slide, which costs 1s. 6d. and not £40; 2,500 such slides have been ordered; none has been distributed except to distributors who indicated their desire to co-operate in this scheme; and the whole scheme was discussed with the Cinema Exhibitors' Association before any slides were ordered.