B—l [Ft. ll]

National Film Unit and National Publicity Studios An Audit Inspector who recently examined, the above-mentioned Sections of the Prime Minister's Department for the year ended 31st March, 1950, has submitted the following statement: —• National Film National PublicityUnit. Studios. £ £ The gross payments for the year were .. .. 92,314 43,614 The amounts spent on the purchase of capital assets were .. .. .. 20,482 5,622 Therefore the net operating payments were 71,832 37,992 Receipts from sales were received from the following sources — N.F.U. N.P.S. £ £ Government Departments 13,458 8,625 Other sales .. .. 1,862 539 Overseas sales .. .. 134 6 " Weekly Review " .. 5,178 20,632 9,170 The balances, representing the net operating payments borne by the Department for the year were .. .. .. .. £51,200 £28,822 The Government Departments which made the payments shown above were Education, £6,100 ; Tourist, £4,392 ; Agriculture, £3,286 ; Transport, £2,024 ; and various others to the value of £6,281. Broadcasting Service Costs of the National Orchestra are charged against two appropriations mentioned hereunder: — (1) A permanent appropriation is contained in section 13 (1) of the Broadcasting Act, 1936, which reads as follows : There shall from time to time, without further appropriation than this section, be paid out of the Broadcasting Account the moneys following : (a) All moneys required to be expended for the purpose of providing programmes to be transmitted from broadcasting stations operated by the Minister or for the purpose of the exercise of the powers conferred on the Minister by this Act, not being salaries, allowances, or expenses payable to the Director, or to officers of the Public Service. The major expenses of the Orchestra, such as salaries, overtime, and travellingallowances, are treated as being covered by this provision, and as it contains a permanent appropriation such costs do not come under the same review by Parliament as they would if they were required to be charged against the annual vote.

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