HC Deb 09 May 1984 vol 59 c389W
Mr.Nicholas Winterton

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts whether Her Majesty's Government have any plans to increase the level of funding for the British Film Institute in the immediate future.

Mr.Waldegrave

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton on 11 April. The British Film Institute is to receive an additional £1 million in 1986–87 for the support of film activities at present assisted by the Greater London council and the metropolitan counties.

Otherwise, the level of funding of the British Film Institute will be reviewed annually in the usual way.

Mr.Nicholas Winterton

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what funding has been given to the British Film Institute in each of the years since 1974; and for what purpose these funds are intended.

Mr.Waldegrave

The Government's grant-in-aid to the British Film Institute in each of the years since 1974 has been as follows:

Financial year Amount £ million
1974–75 1.537
1975–76 1.862
1976–77 2.514
1977–78 3.480
1978–79 3.900
1979–80 4.724
1980–81 5.829
1981–82 6.520
1982–83 7.014
+ supplementaries 1.455
1983–84 7.243
1984–85 7.710

The funds are intended to aid the British Film Institute in carrying out its objectives which are to encourage the development of the art of film in Great Britain, to promote its use as a record of contemporary life and manners, to foster study and appreciation of it from these points of view, to foster study and appreciation of films for television and television programmes generally and to encourage the best use of television in Great Britain.

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