75. Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the value of import licences issued since July, 1945, for the importation from the U.S.A. of film-studio equipment, including sound-recording apparatus, 16-mm. and 35-mm. cinematograph projection equipment, film printing and developing equipment, and the comparable figures of British production retained for home use and exported.
§ Mr. Belcherthe value of the him studio equipment for which licences to import from the U.S.A. were granted from 1st August, 1945, to 31st May, 1947, was £448,000. I understand from my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Supply, 203W that no comparable figures for production are available. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT such information as is available in respect of the exports of film-making equipment.
Following is the information.
July-December 1945. £ Cameras (all types including cine cameras). 66,44[...] Projection apparatus (all sizes including magic lanterns). 47,745 Cinematograph film— Unexposed sensitised film 46,204
January-April, 1946 1947 £ £ Cine cameras 15,854 12,355 Cinematograph sound recording apparatus. 17,102 8,704 Projection apparatus— Standard (35 mm.) gauge 240,663 85,742 Other (including magic lanterns). 98,734 50,933 Cinematograph film— Unexposed sensitised film 396,570 152,355
76. Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade whether Agfa colour process patents and materials have been made available to the British film industry; and what use has been made of them.
§ Mr. BelcherAll but one of the German-owned United Kingdom patents which have been identified as relevant to the Agfa colour process expired during the war owing to non-payment of renewal fees. The exception is one patent, concerned with sensitising dyes, in which a British concern was interested as a licensee; but the German rights in this patent too are now extinguished and cannot be revived. Other United Kingdom patents are also believed to be relevant to the Agfa process developed in Germany, but how far that is in fact so I am not able to say. Various necessary ingredients for the process are not yet produced in this country in commercial quantities; but, given time and assured demand, that situation can no doubt be remedied. I understand that certain British firms of standing are engaged on experimental work with a view to exploiting the process commercially.