§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax relief has been granted to UK films under the provisions of section 48 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1997; how many films have been accepted by the Inland Revenue as qualifying films; and if he will make a statement. [3574]
§ Ruth KellyBetween 1 July 1997 and 30 June 2001 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport certified 1,119 "British qualifying" films under the Film Act 1985. The estimated tax cost of relief provided to British qualifying films under section 48 Finance (No. 2) Act 1997 is £200 million in the period 1997–98 to 2000–01, over double the amount that would have been available under the previous arrangements.