§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is his policy to put all Scottish Office film and audiovisual productions out to competitive United Kingdom tender; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards the Scottish film industry.
§ Mr. William RossThe production of films for Government service is undertake by the Central Office of Information on a common service basis.
The production of audio-visual material is undertaking by the Scottish Office and is put out to competitive United Kindom tender.
It is my policy to do everything to encourage Scottish film companies to undertake production of films and other audio-visual productions.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report those advertising agencies retained by the Scottish Office over the last five years for the commissioning of film features, public information shorts, and other film and audio-visual material.
§ Mr. William RossIn the period 197071 Rex Stewart, Glasgow, acted as the advertising agents for the Scottish Office but operating through the Central Office of Information.
Hall Advertising Ltd. of Edinburgh have been the official advertising agents for the Scottish Office from 1972. Since 1974 they have worked directly to the Scottish Office for the production of all 548W material other than films which are undertaken by COI on a common service basis for all Government Departments.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of film features, public information shorts, and other film or audio-visual productions commissioned by the Scottish Office in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. William RossThe total number of film features, public information "shorts" and other film or audio-visual productions commissioned by the Scottish Office in the last five years is as follows:
1970–1971 … … 70 1971–1972 … … 18 1972–1973 … … 44 1973–1974 … … 28 1974–1975 … … 28
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total sum spent on film and audio-visual productions by the Scottish Office in each of the last five years, detailing expenditure under the headings "film features", "public information shorts", and "other productions".
§ Mr. William RossThe total sum spent on film and audio-visual productions by the Scottish Office in the years 1970–75 is as follows:
Films Shorts and others £ £ 1970–71 … … 10,186 7,089 1971–72 … … 9,862 4,456 1972–73 … … 1,397 22,817 1973–74 … … — 31,289 1974–75 … … — 23,448