British Film Institute: Children’s Film Funding

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting Excerpts

Monday 14th February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

My noble friend Lord Falkland is absolutely right. In addition to the films especially made for children, government support to a number of film activities focused on children and young people helps especially abroad.

[Lord Evans of Temple Guiting]

My Lords, I declare an interest as a previous vice-chairman of the BFI under the chairmanship of my noble friend Lord Attenborough, who, as we all regret, cannot be in his place today.

As the Minister will know, in the past, children's film was financed from the Eady levy and the funding administered by the Children's Film and Television Foundation with great success. If the principle of ring-fencing is accepted—I get the feeling from the Minister that it is—would it not make sense for that organisation to carry out the same role in future?

[Baroness Rawlings]

My Lords, I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Evans, on his successful time as vice-chairman of the British Film Institute. Ring-fencing is definitely being considered by the Government at the moment.