HC Deb 18 December 1952 vol 509 c250W
Mr. Arbuthnot

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many cinemas with a seating capacity of 400 or less and excluded from the rural district tax relief scheme have closed down in the last five years; and what percentage this represents of the total in this class.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I regret that information covering the period prior to 1950 is not available, but 14 of these cinemas are known to have closed down since September, 1950, while four new ones have opened. The net reduction of 10 cinemas in this category represents rather less than 3 per cent.