§ Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Trade how many civil servants in his Department are employed to cover the film industry.
§ Mr. DeakinsThe permanent full-time complement is 12 officers.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether he will institute discussions on the feasibility of a structure to undertake a continuous review of the operation of the British Film Fund within the structure of a national film authority;
274W(2) whether he will initiate discussions for the establishment of an agency to promote the British film industry abroad as an integral part of a single national film authority;
(3) whether he will initiate discussions on ways in which the distribution of films in the United Kingdom might be improved;
(4) whether he will consider initiating arrangements for the provision of statistical information regarding all registered films as a function of a national film authority;
(5) whether he will now give consideration to the establishment of a single British Film Authority, with particular reference to stimulating British feature film production;
(6) whether he will initiate discussions for the study of the feasibility of a system of financial support for films of outstanding artistic merit and for specialised cinemas as an integral part of a single national film authority;
(7) whether he will initiate discussions for the examination of methods of improving the present market for short films in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeakinsThese, and many other matters relating to the film industry, were considered by the Working Party on the Future of the Film Industry. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has told the House, the recommendations in the Working Party's Report are being urgently considered by the Government, and it is hoped to make a statement as soon as possible.