Speeches by Frith.

“I have a final point, just on the levers to bring audiences in. I read an article last week about the rise of the intermission, and is this cinema finding it a USP that people would prefer perhaps to sit in a more comfortable chair with a bigger screen, and with the intermission allowing them to take a comfort break—[I…”

“There will be no narrative here that suggests it should be anything other than in its pomp or on its way to be, for sure. As I understand it, a film that is released has to be at the cinema for a period of time to qualify for some awards. Would you support that period of time being extended and, therefore, improving th…”

“Just on cinema audiences—I ask as an avid cinema-goer myself, although I like to go on my own because, in truth, I get away from all the people I live with at home—what is it going to take to get cinema audiences back to pre-pandemic levels? What do you see as the role of the Government and the BFI in that?”

“On the case to make to the Government, yes.”

“What would the characteristics be of that application to Government? What do you think would make the strength of the application as compelling as it would need to be to try to increase that settlement?”

“To come back to you, Jay, I am emphasising this point: how strong is the case for grant funding to support independent cinemas, especially given the pressures on departmental budgets? Do you not have a duty to ask other stakeholders that fund before going to Government and asking for departmental support before exhaust…”

“I understand that. I guess that, if I was in receipt of a request to the Department for grant funding, I would expect the industry to have asked for additional funding from the lottery for a settlement that is 25 years old.”

“Right. So it probably is due a review, is it?”

“Has it been 2.7% during the whole 25 years?”

“Have you asked for that?”

“Good morning, and thank you for coming in. On supporting cinemas—this question is on independent cinemas—I note that only 2.7% of National Lottery receipts are awarded. Is it worth asking—or perhaps you have already asked—the lottery to stump up more, rather than coming to the Government to expect departmental support,…”

“The point Ben makes about having to consider it in the round and being around the table is a version of what the Department is having to do in allocating its spending all of the time. Would you make a formal approach to them on that basis?”

“I thank the Minister for her statement and her even-handedness, both in stating the British Government’s position on increased aid to UNRWA and in confirming that there can be no role for Hamas in future governance. The UK has a strong track record of bringing people together across communities to build peace, no more …”

“Thank you. On the issue of artificial intelligence, as we discussed yesterday in the debate, the UK has one of the best copyright regimes in the world, which stimulates innovation and growth. How is the proposed model’s undermining of creators’ copyright compatible with Government intentions for growth specifically in …”

“Just on cinema audiences—I ask as an avid cinema-goer myself, although I like to go on my own because, in truth, I get away from all the people I live with at home—what is it going to take to get cinema audiences back to pre-pandemic levels? What do you see as the role of the Government and the BFI in that?”

“Have you asked for that?”

“Good morning, and thank you for coming in. On supporting cinemas—this question is on independent cinemas—I note that only 2.7% of National Lottery receipts are awarded. Is it worth asking—or perhaps you have already asked—the lottery to stump up more, rather than coming to the Government to expect departmental support,…”

“Thank you. On the issue of artificial intelligence, as we discussed yesterday in the debate, the UK has one of the best copyright regimes in the world, which stimulates innovation and growth. How is the proposed model’s undermining of creators’ copyright compatible with Government intentions for growth specifically in …”

“To come back to you, Jay, I am emphasising this point: how strong is the case for grant funding to support independent cinemas, especially given the pressures on departmental budgets? Do you not have a duty to ask other stakeholders that fund before going to Government and asking for departmental support before exhaust…”

“The point Ben makes about having to consider it in the round and being around the table is a version of what the Department is having to do in allocating its spending all of the time. Would you make a formal approach to them on that basis?”