§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether it is his policy to put all film and audio-visual productions commissioned by his Department out to competitive United Kingdom tender.
§ Mr. BennMy Department's programme for films and audio-visual productions for the current financial year is being handled by the Central Office of Information which commissions companies on the basis of their suitability for the work to be carried out. The use of competitive tendering is kept under review, but on balance it is considered not to offer any advantages over direct commissioning.
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the total number of films and audio-visual productions commissioned by his Department in each of the last five years;
(2) what was the number of film and audio-visual productions commissioned by his Department over the last five years which were made by Scottish-registered and English-registered production companies, respectively; and what was the total sum involved in each case;
(3) what was the total sum spent by his Department on film and audio-visual productions in each of the last five years, detailing expenditure under the headings of "films" and "shorts and others".
§ Mr. BennThe Department of Energy was formed on 9th January 1974. No films or audio-visual productions were made for my Department from that date to the end of the 1974–75 financial year.