§ Mr. Cryer asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will estimate the contribution made by the Central Office of Information film unit to the sale of British goods and services abroad in the past 10 years; what is the annual cost of the unit; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Hayhoe:The COI provides a range of services in all media supporting export activities and the specific commercial return attributable to the output of films and television division is not identifiable. It is proposed from 1 April 1982 to buy in the film editing and directing functions hitherto conducted in-house, at an annual cost of £335,000, by the COI.
Mr. Cryer asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the planned annual cost involved in transferring the work of the Central Office of Information film unit to private film producers; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. Hayhoe:£260,000. Sufficient creative staff will be retained to maintain the quantity and quality of COI film output.