§ Viscount SANDONasked the President of the Board of Trade why the procedure adopted by the Governments of other countries in insisting on the sole use of non-inflammable films at cinema displays has not been adopted by him for this country?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have been asked to reply to this question. I do not know of any country in which the sole use of non-inflammable films is insisted on by the Government. If my hon. Friend is referring to France, I am informed that the decree which was issued some time ago prohibiting the use of inflammable films in Paris has been postponed and has not yet been brought into operation. The position at present is that no really non-inflammable film has yet been produced and that the less inflammable kinds of film which have been produced ale subject to certain drawbacks which have militated against their adoption. In these circumstances, and in view of the fact that the use of inflammable films is governed in this country by very strict regulations which, as experience has proved, provide adequate safeguards, there seems no case for any Government action in the mater at the present time.