§ 43. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make it a condition of grant to the British Film Institute that the essential finance is available for the purpose-built Tyneside Film Theatre 127W with educational and social facilities in accordance with the previously accepted proposals of Mr. Kenneth Adam, Governor of the British Film Industry, details of which have been sent to him.
§ Miss Jennie LeeI have been repeatedly assured by the Governors of the British Film Institute that they have never approved any commitment to a new cinema in Newcastle. I can accept no responsibility for any misunderstanding between the Newcastle City Corporation and the institute on this matter. Solely because the institute's finances had reached a point of crisis, its authority to enter into new commitments in the current financial year, which it had no power to anticipate, was withdrawn before the year began. A factor contributing to the institute's financial position was the loss of £15,000 on the existing Tyneside Film Theatre in 1968–69.