§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in the work of the audio-visual industry skills taskforce. [140182]
§ Janet AndersonThe Audio Visual Industries Training Group (AVITG) was established jointly by my Department and Skillset, the National Training Organisation for the sector, in 1999 as a new cross-industry group to investigate and report on the current and future skills required in 339W broadcasting and the electronic media and to recommend the training and education needed to develop these skills, so that the UK can compete effectively in the world media market place.
The Group has been particularly active in scoping and defining the sector. As one of its main activities it has undertaken the first ever census of the UK media industries. The Census has been published today and I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It will be followed by a survey of freelances working across the industry in order to identify their current and predicted future training and skills needs.
The AVITG has received a large number of submissions to date and will continue to receive evidence and submissions until December. It is on target to produce its final report and recommendations next spring.