HC Deb 29 June 1998 vol 315 c57W
20. Mr. Burden

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent EU audiovisual conference in Birmingham. [46332]

Mr. Chris Smith

This conference was my Department's major EU Presidency initiative. It has been widely welcomed by the various sectors of the European audiovisual industry. A number of constructive and innovative ideas were identified in areas ranging from future employment, copyright and regulatory regimes, to European support for the audiovisual industries. These should help position the industry to take advantage of the opportunities opening up with the development of digital technology, and inform future thinking in Member States and the European Commission. Copies of the final conference report, when available, will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.