HC Deb 21 April 1931 vol 251 cc818-20W
Captain A. HUDSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can ascertain and publish, either as a White Paper or in the OFFICIAL REPORT, in the form of a genealogical tree, a plan showing the American financial interests controlling picture theatres in Great Britain and the films exhibited in them?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

I regret that I am not in a position to provide the hon. and gallant Member with the plan he desires, but I may say that I have no reason to suppose that any considerable number of picture theatres in this country are controlled by American financial interests. Of the films, British and foreign, registered under the Cinematograph Films Act in the last year between 50 and 60 per cent. were registered in the names of renting houses which are subsidiaries of United States concerns.