HC Deb 18 February 1965 vol 706 cc253-4W
Mr. Edelman

asked the President of the Board of Trade what quota relief he proposes to allow for 1965 to those cinemas which do not have regular access to one or other of the two main release programmes at first run.

Mr. Darling

At my right hon. Friend's request the Cinematograph Films Council

have considered this matter in detail. They have advised him that, although some exhibitors may continue to experience difficulty in finding enough suitable British films, there are insufficient grounds at this stage for anticipating the situation by prescribing reduced quota obligations. My r ght hon. Friend has accepted this advice. If in practice any exhibitor finds it impossible to secure enough acceptable British films, however, he will, bearing in mind whatever further advice the Council may give him, not hesitate to issue a direction under Section 1(4) of the Films Act, 1960, that failure to achieve quota has been due to circumstances beyond that exhibitor's control.