Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Stoke-on-Trent: Video Games Enterprise Zone

25 May 2022 · 2 other contributors · 5,169 words

Opened by Jonathan Gullis Con Stoke-on-Trent North

Responding minister: Julia Lopez

Science & TechnologyBusiness & Trade

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Jonathan Gullis raised concerns about stoke-on-trent: video games enterprise zone in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent North is concerned about the potential for the city to become a hub for the UK's video games industry.
  • The MP requests the government to increase the rate of video games tax relief to 32%, introduce a video games investment fund, and establish a new video games enterprise zone for Stoke-on-Trent.
  • The Minister acknowledges the importance of the video games industry in supporting high-skilled jobs and the potential for Stoke-on-Trent to have a bright future in this sector.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks the government to raise the rate of video games tax relief from 25% to match Ireland's planned 32%, introduce a video games investment fund, and establish a new video games enterprise zone for Stoke-on-Trent. He suggests that these measures would enhance the environment for making games in the UK, support start-up studios, provide research and development funding, and attract private investments.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Jonathan Gullis Con Stoke-on-Trent North

The Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent North is concerned about the potential growth and development of a video games enterprise zone in his city. He highlights that Stoke-on-Trent has an opportunity to become a hub for the UK's video games industry, given its digital infrastructure, local talent pool from Staffordshire University, and recent investments like VX Fiber's fibre-to-the-premises open access model. The MP points out that the global market for video games is worth around $180 billion with 3 billion players worldwide, and the UK alone has over 32 million players and a domestic market of £7 billion in 2020. He also notes that Staffordshire University ranks as the 13th best institution in the world for games design and development.

Other contributors (2)
  • Jack Brereton Lab Stoke-on-Trent South

    Congratulations Jonathan Gullis on securing this debate and highlights the excellent connectivity in Stoke-on-Trent for gigabit fibre broadband, noting it is better than any city in the UK. He also mentions that the city has cheaper office space compared to other cities making it an ideal location for video games industry. The MP from Stoke-on-Trent South emphasizes the importance of incentivising the sector to establish itself in Stoke-on-Trent, noting that all infrastructure is already available including office space and digital fibre connectivity. Asked the Minister for a possible reason why the video games industry would not locate to Stoke-on-Trent, stating he could think of no single reason.

  • Jo Gideon Lab Stoke-on-Trent Central

    Supports the motion, praising Stoke-on-Trent's potential as a hub for creative industries through its existing digital and creative infrastructure including courses in VR, 3D printing and drone technology at Stoke-on-Trent College. Emphasises the need to incentivise more employers to further develop Silicon Stoke ambitions. The MP from Stoke-on-Trent Central highlights the gigabit installation provided by VX Fiber and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, with funding from DCMS. She also mentions the success of Staffordshire University in its video games courses and its role as a computing hub for driving forward teaching in schools and colleges.

Government Response

Julia Lopez

Thank you for your chairing this debate, Dame Angela. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent North (Jonathan Gullis) for highlighting the important role that the video games industry plays in supporting very high-skilled jobs and levelling up across the UK. As my hon. Friend says, something is stirring in Stoke. It is a fantastic city with a very bright future and, through our investments in gigabit broadband—it is one of the best connected places in the UK. The video games sector contributed about £2.8 billion to the UK economy in 2019, growing from 13,000 in 2011 to 27,000 in 19. We are putting together a £50 million creative industries programme and up to £18 million invested in the Create Growth programme to help high-growth, creative businesses access finance across six regions in England outside London. The UK Games Fund has supported more than 190 early-stage video game development projects since 2015 and we are expanding it by £800 million. Our games tax relief has strengthened the UK's reputation as one of the leading destinations to make video games, supporting 1,640 games with UK expenditure of £4.4 billion. We keep all these tax incentives under close review, ensuring international competitiveness. The Creative Industries Clusters programme supports Dundee's video games cluster through InGAME, creating 337 new companies and safeguarding 477 jobs since 2020. We are working on digital connectivity with VX Fiber targeting more than 30,000 properties for a gigabit-capable connection and Project Gigabit covering another 70,800 premises in Staffordshire including Stoke later this year. Alongside robust growth and relentless innovation, we need skills in place to help the video games industry reach its full potential. Our creative careers programme has given 27,000 young people hands-on experience with industry through immersive events and work experience opportunities. Specialised skills are needed for development, production, art, and sound design from further and higher education study opportunities at Stoke-on-Trent College to Staffordshire University's games courses winning the 2021 excellence in university and industry collaboration award from TIGA. We continue to invest in important opportunities for young people across the UK to get resources and knowledge they need to progress exciting careers in the creative industries.

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