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Stoke-on-Trent: Video Games Enterprise Zone

25 May 2022

Lead MP

Jonathan Gullis

Responding Minister

Julia Lopez

Tags

EducationEconomyTaxationEmploymentCulture, Media & SportScience & TechnologyBusiness & Trade
Word Count: 5169
Other Contributors: 2

At a Glance

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

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:

Lead Contributor

Opened the debate
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.

Government Response

Julia Lopez
Government Response
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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About Westminster Hall Debates

Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.