Film Industry

Film making is a significant economic success story in the UK, generating £1.36 billion annually and employing over 195,000 people. The Government aims to attract investment, reflect diverse stories on screen, and ensure the UK has the best environment for film production. New tax incentives will support independent films with budgets of up to £23.5 million at a rate of 53%. This is designed to boost creativity, job creation, and growth in every region.

Defends the Government's measures, acknowledges that today’s announcement is good for British films but criticises the previous Conservative Government for failing to deliver on their promises. Highlights the economic black hole left by the Conservatives and the need for a new curriculum to include art, sport, music, and culture.

Welcomes the statement regarding job vacancies in creative industries and suggests lining up training opportunities through T-levels and further education institutions to create employment for young people across the country.

Welcomes the announcement but calls for wider tax relief measures, reform of the apprenticeship levy into a training and skills levy, creation of creative enterprise zones, application to join Creative Europe, and steps to extend access to finance in the creative industries.

Welcomed the statement, congratulated Steve Rotheram for his investment in the 'Hollywood of the north' project at Littlewoods building which will create 4,000 jobs. Emphasised Labour's support for the film industry.

Thanked Peter Dowd for his work in supporting creative industries; praised Mayor Steve Rotheram’s efforts and supported One Creative North project to create a cultural corridor in the north of England. Promised support for visual effects tax credits and continued discussions on enterprise investment scheme.

Welcomed the Secretary of State’s words, congratulated her on implementing tax credits in the Budget; requested updates on visual effects tax credits and enterprise investment scheme for film. Emphasised the importance of creative industries in Britain's industrial strategy.

Praised the British Film Institute’s work, supported small and medium-sized enterprises within the sector; requested more support for SMEs to help them grow and succeed.

Welcomed the statement but expressed concerns about copyright protection regime and its potential impact on investment certainty in the film industry.

Thanked for initiatives supporting creative industries across all regions; requested support to encourage future talent development in constituencies such as Cardiff.

Acknowledged the importance of skills and funding issues within the creative sector; questioned if reforms to apprenticeship levy would fully meet the needs of the creative industries.

Welcomed the Government’s commitment to growing the UK's film and creative industries, highlighting Croydon as a filming location.

Asked about skills challenges in the sector, particularly for freelancers, and suggested larger players could act as incubators to bring through more talent.

Highlighted the importance of film festivals in Edinburgh and praised the Government's announcement as good news for the sector in Edinburgh.

Discussed the role of digital skills in film, cinema, e-sports, and gaming, commending the local skills improvement fund and its facilitation of initiatives like Tech Trowbridge.

Welcomed the move to increase the number of film studios, emphasising the independent sector's ability to create a more diverse workforce.

Praised Wokingham’s contribution to Berkshire’s success in the film industry and asked for confirmation on when guidance on business rates tax relief will be published.

Stressed the importance of reaching coastal communities with creative skills pathways to help fill the skills gap in such areas.

Noted the blossoming film industry in North Norfolk and raised concerns about rural transport affecting young creatives' ability to live and work there.

Welcomed support for the creative industries across Bournemouth and asked what more could be done to boost investment in jobs in the sector.

Emphasised the importance of universities in supporting the creative industries, highlighted a partnership between Pinewood Studios and a local university that is introducing young people to opportunities in the industry. Stressed the government's commitment to creating skilled jobs through the ecosystem of the creative industries.

Expressed enthusiasm for the Secretary of State's statement and asked for assurances that Northern Ireland, along with other devolved regions, will benefit from tax relief measures aimed at supporting the film industry.

Acknowledged Jim Shannon's comments and provided reassurance about the impact of increased tax relief on independent films in Northern Ireland. Mentioned personal appreciation for Northern Ireland’s contribution to UK culture through shows like “Derry Girls”.

Welcomed the Secretary of State's statement and asked if she would work with him to attract more film and TV projects to Calderdale, emphasising the economic benefits of the industry.

Acknowledged Josh Fenton-Glynn's enthusiasm for his constituency’s role in the creative industries. Emphasised her commitment to supporting all regions and praised shows like “Happy Valley” for showcasing local talent.

Welcomed the statement and expressed support for cross-party consensus on films such as Paddington. Mentioned the potential for Rochdale to establish a film office due to its attractiveness for filming.

Expressed gratitude towards Paul Waugh's question and highlighted the importance of towns like Rochdale in cultural life. Proposed to work on nurturing development without abusing her position as a minister.

Welcomed the announcement about further investment opportunities for new facilities, emphasising the potential economic benefits of Crown Works Studios in his constituency.

Acknowledged Lewis Atkinson's support and commitment to work with him on developing Crown Works Studios. Emphasised a plan for unlocking the potential of new exciting projects across the country.

Welcomed the Secretary of State’s commitment to skills development and asked how this can be leveraged to support Berkshire's film industry, ensuring growth for constituents in Bracknell.

Agreed with Peter Swallow about the importance of a skilled workforce. Mentioned an example from Birmingham where a film studio is recruiting 20% of its local workforce from deprived areas, aiming to replicate this model in other regions.

Welcomed the statement supporting the creative industry in Cornwall and invited the Secretary of State to visit his constituency to meet with the Cornish language film industry, stressing the importance of careful nurturing.

Accepted Perran Moon's invitation for a Minister to visit his constituency. Emphasised the government’s commitment to ending politically driven culture wars and supporting rich cultural diversity across different parts of the country.

Welcomed the statement about support for the creative industries, particularly film. Asked how to ensure geographical equality in the industry as well as better equality especially for deprived and ethnic minority communities.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that issue, because it is something that we on the Government Benches are very exercised about. For far too long, not only have the creative industries been largely concentrated in one part of the country, but over the years it has become increasingly hard for the full range of talented people to see themselves represented in those industries; to break into them and have opportunities. We have already started some of the necessary work. We have been talking to some of the big institutions that have a central role to play, and I have been struck by the great work that is going on, which we could extend. The Royal Shakespeare Company is visiting schools throughout the country, particularly in deprived areas or areas where there is a low cultural offer, to boost confidence and employability, open up young people’s options, and help them not just to have dreams—they all have dreams—but to have a plan to get there.

This is great news for my region in the west midlands—bostin news, in fact—and, in particular, for special places such as Ironbridge Gorge, a world heritage site in my constituency. May we have a commitment from the Secretary of State that, across the Department, attractions such as the living museum at Blists Hill will be protected so that filming can take place there for many years to come?

Notwithstanding the rivalry that is going on in the Chamber today, my hon. Friend has a genuine claim to represent one of the country’s cultural hubs. We are well aware of the challenges that he and his constituents are facing in attempting to preserve that cultural offer—we are absolutely on the case—and I look forward to working with him to ensure that we protect it for generations to come.

I, too, welcome the statement. Last week I had the pleasure of opening a state-of-the-art media suite at Basingstoke College of Technology, which uses high-tech facilities similar to those employed in “Star Wars”. Does my right hon. Friend agree with me about the importance of investing in such facilities in order to ensure that we can provide the necessary education and skills for those who want to go into the industry in future? Perhaps one of her Ministers could visit the college to meet the students who are learning with the aid of those brand-new high-tech facilities.

I must say to my hon. Friend that he would have made a much more compelling case for his constituency being the Hollywood of the UK had he come here dressed as a stormtrooper. He might consider that next time. As for education and skills, I very much agree with him, but we are acutely aware that in some parts of the country the opportunities for young people to gain work experience, to benefit from mentoring, and to meet the people who do these jobs and therefore believe that they or someone like them could go on to do them as well are very limited. We are looking into what we can do about that.