§ Mrs. Whiteasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, for 1958 and 1959, showing the percentage increase or decrease, the amounts of home and overseas earnings accruing to producers of British films, including statutory levy, the amounts retained by distributors of British films, and the average net takings per cinema.
31W
§ Mr. J. RodgersThe following is the information asked for:
EARNINGS OF PRODUCERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF BRITISH FILMS — 1958 (£'000) 1959 (£'000) Per centage Change 1958–59 Share of film rentals charged in Great Britain and payable to producers 4,920 4,418 —10.2 Share of film rentals retained by distributors for expenses and commission (a) 3,459 3,493 +1.0 Amounts payable to producers out of monies received by the British Film Production Fund in the Calendar year (b) 3,573 3,527 —1.0 Payments to the United Kingdom in respect of rents, royalties and sales of rights in British films overseas and direct distribution expenses (c) 5,061 4,959 —2.0
- (a) Direct distribution expenses in Great Britain rose 4.8 per cent. from £1,641,000 to £1,720,000 in 1959 and the other receipts retained by distributors fell by 2.5 per cent. from £1,818,000 to £1,773,000 in the same year.
- (b) Excludes monies payable to Children's Film Foundation Ltd., and cost of collection and distribution.
- (c) Largely currency remitted from overseas though some overseas earnings not actually transferred to the United Kingdom are included. Direct distribution expenses on freight, print and material costs which are met by distributors, have risen from £660,000 in 1958 to £857,000 in 1959 but it is not known how much in addition to this has been retained by distributors.
The average net takings per cinema in 1958 was£16,000; after deducting payments, for film hire the average exhibitor's share per cinema was £10,500. The comparable figures for 1959 are not yet available but it is estimated that they were slightly lower than those for 1958.