6 MARCH 1964, Page 15

Si,—Comments so far made by me have been con- fined

exclusively to stating a case on behalf of independent British film production, based entirely on evidence submitted to and the recommendations by the Structure and Trading Practices Sub-Com- mittee of the Cinematograph Films Council. Con- sequently, I do not propose to discuss in detail Mr. Harker's letter (February 21).

For the record, however, it should be stated that throughout its history Ealing Films Ltd. and its associated companies at all times provided a very substantial proportion of the finance required for their production programmes. I have stated publicly that the Ealing period was perhaps the most reward- ing in a long working life. Nevertheless, my personal experience in the 1940s and 1950s has little bearing on the problems of the British independent film producer in the 1960s.