§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Employment over the film education group proposed in A Bigger Picture; [71742]
- (2) what representations he has received from the film industry about (a) the Skills Investment Fund and (b) the definition of a culturally British film; [71746]
- (3) what meetings have taken place of the (a) Film Finance Forum, (b) Skills Investment Fund, (c) All Industry Fund, (d) Film Marketing Agency and (e) Film Action Committee. [71748]
§ Janet AndersonI have discussed the progress of the film education group with Ministerial colleagues at the Department for Education and Employment and officials from our two Departments are in regular contact. There is also a DfEE representative on the group itself. Good progress has been made and the group is due to publish its report in April.
A wide range of representations about the Skills Investment Fund has been received and discussions with key industry players are proceeding very constructively. We will make an announcement on the Fund in due course.
We have received only a few representations on the proposed definition of a culturally British film. Several respondents argued that the existence of two film definitions, even if used for different purposes, could be confusing. It is for the industry to decide whether it should use such a definition to help target its marketing activities. The Film Policy Review Action Committee has not pursued this recommendation from A Bigger Picture.
There have been four meetings of the Film Policy Review Action Committee and one meeting of the Film Finance Forum. The Action Committee is discussing with representatives of the distributors and exhibitors plans for establishing a Film Marketing Agency. On the All Industry Fund, the Action Committee decided that the model set out in A Bigger Picture was not practicable, but is taking forward discussions with the industry about possible support for specific initiatives in areas such as development and generic marketing.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with the Treasury concerning continued tax exemptions for British films; [71749]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the £15 million production costs limit for films, for tax purposes. [72324]
§ Janet AndersonMy Department has kept the Treasury fully informed of the industry's views about the beneficial effects of the tax write-off and about the £15 million production costs limit. The Film Policy Review Action Committee has also developed a proposal for a new tax relief aimed at boosting the domestic distribution sector, which has been submitted to the Treasury.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the predicted financial savings arising from the amalgamation of British Screen, the British Film Commission and the British Film Institute. [71752]
48W
§ Janet AndersonLast December my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that a new public body, British Film, will be established by 1 April 2000. British Film will deliver a coherent strategy for the development of film culture and the film industry. British Screen and the British Film Institute will not be incorporated in the new body. British Screen will retain its private-sector status, which enables it to operate effectively within the commercial industry. The BFI will retain its charitable status, which helps it to pursue its educational and cultural objectives. Discussions about the relationship between the British Film Commission and British Film are currently in progress.
The bringing together of grant-in-aid and Lottery funding for film under one strategic body will ensure that resources are used as cost-effectively as possible and avoid duplication of expenditure.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much lottery money(a) was spent by the Arts Council in the last 12 months for which figures are available and (b) he expects the Arts Council to have at its disposal in each of the next three years for the British film industry. [71747]
§ Janet AndersonIn 1997–98 the amount of lottery money committed by the Arts Council was £323.8 million.
In December I announced the creation of a new public body, British Film, that will take over the role of the Arts Council of England in distributing funds for film. British Film will be established as a Lottery distributor with its own percentage stream of Lottery money from the arts good cause, guaranteeing, for the first time, a dedicated share of Lottery resources for film. The percentage will be set to ensure British Film receives at least £27 million each year from the Lottery; the figure may well be higher if the numbers playing the Lottery continue as at present.