§ Mr. DAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give particulars of the subjects, also the amount of the receipts, received by the Government in respect of any films made with their assistance during the previous three years, and particulars of any films that are being made with the assistance of any of the Government Departments at the present time?
§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONFollowing are the particulars of film made (I) by, (II) on behalf of, or (III) with the assistance of Government Departments in the last three years, or under production at present.
1532WI.—1. 40 films have been made by the Post Office Film Unit for the purposes of the Public Relations Department of the Post Office, and a further six are in course of production.
Of the 40 films completed, nine have been and are being distributed for theatrical display; the net amount received in respect of this display is £363; and a further £329 is due in respect of bookings up to date.
In addition, two films have been made by the Post Office Film Unit, on repayment, for the British Broadcasting Corporation and five for the Ceylon Tea Propaganda Board; the net receipts accruing to the Post Office in respect of these films (to the production of which the unit was committed before the issue of the Report of the Select Committee on Estimates, 1934, and the Treasury Minute thereon) is £1,812.
II.—2. 20 Films have been made by commercial firms on behalf of Government Departments as follows:—
- 11 National Mark films for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
- 6 films for the Ministry of Labour.
- 3 films for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
The National Mark films have been displayed at agricultural shows and on similar occasions. Receipts amount to £55.
Of the six films produced on behalf of the Ministry of Labour, four, relating to the work of the Ministry in connection with Training Centres and with Juvenile Advisory Committees are exhibited free of charge by officers of the Ministry to appropriate audiences.
The remaining two are designed for theatrical exhibition, and the receipts in respect of one of these have so far amounted to £27 7s. 9d. The other has not yet been shown.
The films supplied for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research deal with technical subjects—the Cathode Ray Oscillograph, Hull Design and Aircraft Design, and the firm concerned, having made no charge for its services, retains the sole rights of commercial exploitation.
3. A number of films have been and are being produced on behalf of the Defence Departments for training purposes only.
1533W4. A film dealing with Ravages by Eats is in course of production for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries by a commercial firm.
III.—5. Assistance has been given by the Admiralty, Air Ministry and War Office in the form of loans of personnel, equipment and the like in the production of the following films by commercial firms for theatrical exhibition:
"Brown on Resolution," "Deeds Men Do," "White Ensign," "Jack Ahoy," "Second to None," "Carry on," "R.A.F.," "I was a Spy," "Airport," "Lawrence of Arabia," "S.O.S.," "Croydon Airport," "The Iron Duke," "Whither Mankind," "Debt of Honour," "Death on the Road," "Orders are Orders," "Soldiers Three," and "Rhodes."
The receipts accruing to Public Funds on account of assistance rendered have amounted to approximately £2,800.
Assistance of this character is being rendered in the case of the following films now being made:
Department. 1934–35. 1935–36. 1936–37. Numbers on 1st April, 1934. Wages for year. Numbers on 1st April, 1935. Wages for year. Numbers on 1st April, 1936. £ £ Admiralty … … 44,734 7,098,461 46,994 8,009,597 51,014 War Department … 22,675 3,223,277 23,834 4,087,089 30,607 Air Ministry … … 6,826 1,002,026 7,523 1,276,373 10,095 Total … … 74,235 £11,323,764 78,351 £13,373,059 91,716 The figures of cost for the year 1936 are not readily available, but I will send them to the hon. Member as soon as they have been extracted.