Film Levy Finance Act 1981

2 Levy on exhibitors

(1) The Secretary of State shall continue to provide by regulations for the imposition upon exhibitors of a levy in respect of—

(a) the period of 56 weeks beginning on 21st September 1980, and

(b) each of the four successive periods of 52 weeks following that period.

(2) Regulations under this section—

(a) shall provide for defining the classes of persons, being exhibitors, who are to be liable to the levy, and may provide for the exemption of any exhibitors or classes of exhibitors;

(b) shall specify the rate of the levy or the method by which it is to be calculated and may make different provision in relation to different exhibitors or classes of exhibitors;

(c) shall contain provisions as to the times at which payments shall be made in respect of the levy; and

(d) may make such incidental or consequential provision as may appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the regulations.

(3) The Secretary of State shall discharge the duty imposed on him by subsection (1) in such manner as will secure that the amount to be yielded by way of levy in respect of each period in respect of which it is imposed will, in his estimation, be neither less than £2 million nor more than £12 million.

(4) In determining the amount to be so yielded, the Secretary of State shall have regard to the prevailing economic circumstances of both exhibitors and makers of British films as well as to the prevailing level of production of such films.

(5) The Secretary of State may by order substitute for either or both of the sums specified in subsection (3) such other sum or sums as may be specified in the order.

(6) When the Secretary of State proposes to make any regulations or order under this section, he shall, before making the regulations or order, consult the Cinematograph Films Council.

(7) Any regulations or order under this section shall be made by statutory instrument; but no such regulations or order shall be made unless a draft thereof has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

(8) In this Act " the levy" means the levy imposed in accordance with regulations made under this section.