HC Deb 29 January 1952 vol 495 cc11-2W
85. Mr. Reeves

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what conclusions he has drawn as to the reasons why film exhibitors fail to use the films produced for the Central Office of Information, in view of the advantageous terms upon which they can be procured from specially appointed renters.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Some exhibitors do use these films. Seventy films are now being distributed by 14 renters, and they secured about 50,000 paid-for bookings in this country, for runs averaging three days. There are no specially appointed renters.

86. Mr. Reeves

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the specially appointed renters of 35 millimetre copies of Central Office of Information films are not permitted to handle 16 millimetre prints of the same film for distribution to commercial exhibitors willing to show them.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

There are no specially appointed renters. The present position is that contracts in respect of particular films for commercial distribu- tion normally enable the distributor to supply 16 millimetre prints. The sum provided for making 16 millimetre prints of the films issued for free exhibition is limited, but commercial exhibitors may obtain such as are available on application to the Central Office of Information. The whole policy of Government film production and distribution has, however, been under review.