§ 65. Mr. Bennasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the Colonial Film Unit was disbanded; what annual savings on the Estimates are expected to be made from this; what consultations were held with Colonial Governments before the decision was reached; and whether, in view of the importance of work of the unit, he will make a colonial development and welfare grant so that this work can be carried on.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe Colonial Film Unit was disbanded because, largely owing to the success of its own pioneering work in stimulating the development of local film units overseas, the need for the advisory and training services of a central unit in London had greatly 27W diminished. Colonial Governments were fully consulted. Expenditure from colonial development and welfare funds for the last full year's operation of the Unit was £9,299.
To assist those Governments still requiring technical advice on film matters the services have been retained in the Colonial Office of Mr. William Sellers, the former Head of the Unit. I am glad to take this opportunity of paying a warm tribute to the work of the Unit under the direction of Mr. Sellers in pioneering the development of local film production in the Colonies.