§ Mr. Stevensasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement explaining his policy in regard to the plans announced by the Rank Organisation for changes in their cinema circuits.
§ Sir D. EcclesYes. The Rank Organisation informed me in general terms of these plans before they made any public announcement. After careful consideration I thought that the plans should go forward. The decline in cinema attendances has created major problems for the Rank Organisation, as for other exhibitors, to solve which they should be allowed to exercise their commercial judgment. I have reminded them of the powers under Section 5(5) of the Cinematograph Films Act, 1948, to refuse licences to circuits in excess of 200 cinemas, and I have made it clear that 269W the Board of Trade would be free to use these powers if at any future date it was felt to be in the public interest to do so.