The Films Bill The second reading of the Government's Films
Bill was taken last week ; and Parliament has little time to give the measure its final form, as important provisions of the existing Act expire next March. The new Bill is undoubtedly an improvement on the 1927 Act, and continues that policy of protection by quota which in ten years has raised the pro- portion of screen-time given to British films from 5 per cent. to nearly 3o per cent. ; and the principle of a minimum cost for quota films may deal a death-blow to the abominable " quota quickie," though it was suggested in debate that the Americans would " drive a coach-and-four " through these provisions. But the Bill has three serious deficiencies. It gives little assuiance that British films will obtain a larger share of the American market, and perhaps this could only be effected by obliging American companies working in this country to secure an American release for a proportion of their quota pictures. Further, no adequate encouragement is given to the cheap documentary films in which Britain has excelled. For the power of granting an exemption, on the ground of quality, from the minimum cost proviso should be in the hands of an independent Films Commission ; the Government's refusal to set up such a body, in spite of the Moyne Committee's recommendation, is, according to the President of the Board of Trade, based on a concern for Parliament's prerogatives which it has conspicuously failed to show in cases where it was more needed. It is possible, however, that this attitude may be modified in Committee.
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