§ Mr. Hugh Jenkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the fact that the Independent Broadcasting Authority now classify as British for the purposes of Section 4(1)(c) of the Independent Broadcasting Act 1973 all films registered with the Department of Trade as eligible for community quota for screening in cinemas, what steps he proposes to take to ensure that proper proportions of the programmes purchased by the independent television companies are produced by British companies, made by British technicians and performed by British performers.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Act requires the Independent Broadcasting Authority to satisfy itself that, so far as possible, the programmes it broadcasts comply with the requirement that proper proportions of recorded and other material included in its programmes are of British origin and performance. The authority tells me that in respect of cinema films the Department of Trade classification is accepted by the authority for the purposes of Section 4(1)(c). I understand that the authority is currently discussing the requirements of this provision with the television programme companies. This is not an area in which it would be appropriate for me to intervene.