§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list by year for the last 10 years in real terms the amount of Government subsidy the British film industry has received; and if he will make a statement on the future of Government funding for the industry.
§ Mr. ForthDirect Government support for the film industry since 1980–81 consists of the following:
Financial year British screen finance National film and television school British film institute 1980–81 — 1,126 9,219 1981–82 — 1,050 9,248 1982–83 — 1,266 11,219 1983–84 — 1,076 9,167 1984–85 — 1,193 9,289 1985–86 569 1,558 9,281 1986–87 2,204 1,212 10,733 1987–88 2,210 1,195 10,642 1988–89 2,000 1,600 11,300 1989–90 12,000 1,700 11,800 1 Actual In addition to the above, Her Majesty's Government provided funding of £370,000 for British Film Year in 1985–86.
The Eady levy on cinema admissions was in operation during the period 1980 to 1985. Proceeds of the levy were redistributed to the industry as shown in the table:
Levy year1 Total payments to industry £000 1980–81 10,244 1981–82 5,865 1982–83 6,287 1983–843 4,496 1984–85 24,452 1 October to October.
2 Includes residual assets of the National Film Finance 286W Corporation.
3 October to May.
Note:—All figures at 1988–89 prices, deflated by RPI, unless otherwise stated.
My Department announced on 20 July 1989 that funding for British Screen Finance Ltd would continue after expiry of the current contracts at the end of 1990 at the present rate of £2 million (actual) a year for the three years 1991–1993. As for future funding for the National Film and Television School and the British Film Institute, I refer the hon. Member to the statement made earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts.