Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Foreign Direct Investment: Film and Television

Thursday 5 March 2020 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Foreign investment in UK film and TV production is increasing, with recent plans for a 500 million yearly investment by US studio Blackhall Studios.
  • The UK government sees potential benefits for Bolton's creative industries from a US-UK trade deal, positioning the area as a leading media center.
  • The UK government aims to maintain its status as a global production hub for film and TV post-Brexit, without implementing the EU copyright directive.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Logan
Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from the context of recent growth in foreign direct investment in UK film and television production.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the ability of the UK to attract foreign direct investment in (a) film and (b) television production?

Answer from Graham Stuart

Foreign investment in film and TV is booming. Just last month, I met representatives of the US's Blackhall Studios, and they unveiled plans for a major investment in conjunction with Reading University, which should bring £500 million a year in inward investment to the UK. That studio alone is expected to employ 3,000 people and further strengthen the UK industry as a creative and economic triumph.

Answered
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Q2 Mark Logan
Culture, Media & Sport Business & Trade
Context

The question is prompted by the significant economic impact that film and television production has had on Bolton, generating over £200,000 from being used as a filming location in the past 12 months.

Question

Will the Minister give an indication as to how a US-UK trade deal will benefit Bolton's creative industries and cement our place as the newest leading media centre in the UK?

Answer from Graham Stuart

Smoothing access to the US through an FTA will help Bolton, and having such an excellent and film-ready advocate for Bolton as my hon. Friend, I look forward to him appearing, perhaps even with a speaking role, in future productions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: How the trade deal would specifically benefit creative industries

How: Smoothing Access, Film-Ready Advocate

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Q3 Alison Thewliss SNP
Culture, Media & Sport Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from the filming of a new Batman movie taking place in Glasgow, raising concerns about potential impacts of not implementing the EU copyright directive post-Brexit.

Question

Is it still the intention of the UK Government not to implement the EU copyright directive because of Brexit? If so, what analysis have they done on what impact that will have on foreign direct investment in film and the creative industries?

Answer from Graham Stuart

Now that we have departed the EU, we are determined to ensure that we remain the leading production hub globally, as we increasingly have been in film, not least thanks to the skill, expertise and beauty of the people and the places, including in the hon. Lady's constituency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Analysis on impact of not implementing EU copyright directive

How: Determined To Remain Leading Production Hub

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