§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civl Service (1) what fees were paid to Mr. Bernard Bresslaw for his work in producing films for the Central Film Library;
(2) what fees were paid to Miss Angela Rippon for her work in producing films for the Central Film Library.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisMr. Bresslaw and Miss Rippon appeared in two films produced by the Central Office of Information: the former in "In the Movies It Doesn't Hurt", produced mainly for distribution to schools; the latter in "Energy Audit", mainly distributed to industry.
Fees paid to performers are negotiated in confidence between the production companies—with the approval of the Central Office of Information—and the artistes' agents. It is not normal commercial practice to disclose such fees.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civil Service who is responsible for deciding which films lent by the Central Film Library should be made available free of charge; and what criteria are taken into account before making such decisions.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe responsibility for deciding which films produced by the Central Office of Information should be made available free of charge through the Central Film Library rests with the COI, in consultation with the sponsoring Government Departments. The main criterion applied is that those films should be on a subject of national importance directed at an audience that would not otherwise be reached since potential borrowers would be unwilling to pay the hire charge for this particular type of film. Some films are acquired from non-official organisations with the sponsorship of the appropriate Department. Decisions on whether or not these 617W films should be "free to borrower" rests with the organisation, which would meet all distribution costs.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civil Service if the Central Film Library has any plans to distribute a film on how to claim social security benefits.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe Central Office of Information makes films at the request of other Government Departments. It has not been approached to make or distribute a film on the claiming of social security benefits.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the cost to public funds of producing the film "What are they doing at College".
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe film "What are they doing at College", produced in 1973, cost £15,200.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civil Service how much money was spent by the Central Film Library in the last full year on fees and salaries to actors and performers in films.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe Central Office of Information produces documentary films on behalf of Government Departments for distribution by the Central Film Library. It is exceptional to engage actors or performers for these films. In the 12-month period ending February 1977, fees paid to actors or performers who appeared in such films amounted to £3,200.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the cost to public funds of producing the film "People Who Like People".
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe film, "People Who Like People", was originally produced by a private film company, Lion Pacesetter, for the Hotel and Catering Industry Training Board. It was later acquired by the Central Office of Information for distribution "free to borrower" through the Central Film Library, under the sponsorship of the Department of Employment. No cost to public funds is involved in production or distribution.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civil Service what income is received 618W in a full year from hire charges of films lent by the Central Film Library.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisIn the 12-month period ending February 1977, the income received from borrowers from hire charges was £127,200. In addition, £58,500 was received from other organisations for films distributed "free to borrower".
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civil Service how much money has been spent on newspaper advertising by the Central Film Library in the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisDuring the financial year 1976–77 an estimated £21,700 will be spent on newspaper advertising for the Central Film Library.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the cost to public funds in a full year of hiring the following films from the Central Film Library: "In the Movies It Doesn't Hurt", "It shall be the Duty", "Simply Metric", "It Takes all Sorts", "Save It—Energy in Industry", "What are they doing at College", "The Motorway File", "Audit", "People Who Like People", and "Asepsis—Principles in Practice".
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisCosts for distributing the following films through the Central Film Library in the 12-month period ending February 1977 were:
£ "In the Movies It Doesn't Hurt" 4,000 "It Shall Be the Duty" nil "Simply Metric" 2,800 "It Takes All Sorts" 2,700 "Save It—Energy in Industry" 3,300 "What are they doing at College" 2,950 "What are they doing at "The Motorway File" 3,550 "Audit" (in CFL since November '76) 590 "People Who Like People" nil "Asepsis—Principles in Practice" nil
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the cost to public funds of the Central Film Library; and how many staff it employs.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe Central Film Library, which is an integral part of the Central Office of Information, is 619W charged with being self-supporting. Expenses are incurred for handling COI-produced films sponsored by Government Departments for "free to borrower" distribution. These handling charges amounted to £47,000 in the 12-month period ending February 1977. The COI employs 25 non-industrial and 15 industrial staff in the Central Film Library.