§ Mr. DAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that renters of cinematograph talking films are compell- 1319W ing film exhibitors to book their films under the block-booking principle, which compels exhibitors to engage several films at a time; whether his advisers have considered whether this is an infringement of Part I of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927; and has any action been taken by his Department?
§ Mr. W. R. SMITHI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which the President of the Board of Trade gave to a similar question of his on 16th July, of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. DAYasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of long films that have been produced during the previous six months which comply with the conditions as laid down in the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927?
§ Mr. SMITHInformation as to the number of films produced in the last six months is not available. The number of British long films registered during that period is 38.
§ Mr. DAYasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of prosecutions that have been instituted by his Department for the infringement of Clause 1 of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1927; and whether he will give particulars?
§ Mr. SMITHThere have been three prosecutions of renters and one prosecution of an exhibitor, under Sections 1 of the Act. Convictions resulted in all these cases.