GV ACKER BILK WAITS OUTSIDE TREASURY.



GV CROWD WAITS OUTSIDE TREASURY.



GV TREASURY.



BILK AND CHRIS BARBER.



SIR MALCOLM SERGEANT ARRIVES.



THREE MEET BILK BARBER SERGEANT.



ENTER



GV TREASURY.



INT. MR. DU CANN-ECONOMIC SECRETARY PRESIDES.



BILK AND BARBER AT TABLE.



WHITEHALL SCENE.




Initials



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Background: MUSICIANS - BOTH POP AND SERIOUS - AT THE TREASURY 1 MARCH TO TRY TO PERSUADE THE GOVERNMENT TO DROP PURCHASE TAX ON MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

ON THE DOORSTEP WAS A SIX-POINT TYPED STATEMENT; HALF AN HOUR EARLY WAS CLARINETTIST MR. ACKER BILK. PLAYING IT SQUARE, HE WORE A TRILBY INSTEAD OF HIS TRADE-MARK BOWLER. CHRIS BARBER WAS IN THE FRONT-LINE TOO, TO PLUG THE THEME TO TREASURY OFFICIALS.

ACCORDING TO MR. BILK, THE TALKING WAS LARGELY CONDUCTED BY SIR MALCOLM SARGENT. HIS POINT - THAT THE TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT TAX MADE MUSIC-MAKING TOO EXPENSIVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. THEIR DEMANDS, HE SAID, HAD BEEN HEARD WITH SYMPATHY.