§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed in(a) the British Film Commission, (b) the Arts Council of England's Lottery Film Department, (c) the British Film Institute's Production Department, (d) British Screen Finance and (d) the British Film Institute; and how many were employed in April (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000. [156149]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe British Film Commission, Arts Council of England's Lottery Film Department and the British Film Institute's Production Department were absorbed into the Film Council on 1 April 2000. British Screen Finance transferred to the Film Council on 1 October 2000. The Film Council currently employs 73 staff.1
Figures for preceding years are as follows:
April 1999 April 20002 British Film Commission 11 11 Arts Council of England's Lottery Film Department 11 13 British Film Institute's Production Department 9 11 British Screen Finance 17 15 British Film Institute3 445 403 Total 541 524 1 The Film Council staff total takes into account staff for finance, business affairs, policy and industry training functions which previously either did or did not exist as activities or were functions undertaken by external lawyers and accountants or by other departments within the Arts Council or the British Film Institute. 2 In respect of all but British Film Institute figures, these relate to the numbers of staff transferring into the Film Council on 1 April 2000. 3 Figures are based on averages for the year. These figures exclude British Film Institute Production but include externally funded staff of 48 in 1999, 71 in 2000 and 83 at present: these staff are on fixed-term contracts and are funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for restoration work at the BFI Archive in Berkhamsted.