TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today welcomed yesterday’s questions in the House of Commons on Games Tax Relief from Mr Ivan Lewis MP and Mr Jonathan Reynolds MP. The questions were asked at Culture, Media and Sport oral questions.
Question 1: Ivan Lewis MP (Bury South) asked:
“The Department’s business plan states, intriguingly, that the Secretary of State’s philanthropy strategy will incorporate “insights from behavioural science”. Does he accept that if such a strategy is built solely on a nudge and a wink, or advice from a psychologist, it will be a damp squib in exactly the same way as a nudge and a wink, rather than the coalition’s promised tax break, is doing nothing to support the growth of the UK video games industry?””
The response from Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport was:
“It is all very well for the hon. Gentleman to carp from the sidelines, but where are his proposals to boost philanthropy? Where are his proposals to help increase the money going to the front line? We are doing things to try to boost the amount of private giving to deal with the economic crisis that we inherited from his Government. He should help us, support us and contribute constructively. I am happy to nudge him to do so.””
Question 2:Jonathan Reynolds MP (Stalybridge and Hyde) asked:
“What recent representations he has received on his Department’s programmes to assist the creative industries.””The response from Ed Vaizey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport was:
“I receive regular representations from across the creative industries – [Interruption] I think debate on the previous question is still going on, but I shall try and talk across it-on all aspects of my Department’s support. I also work closely with other Government Departments, because I am lucky enough to be a Minister in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as well.””
Mr Reynolds MP then asked:
“May I ask the Minister again to look at the issue of tax relief for the computer games industry?””
Mr Vaizey MP responded:
“That is a matter for the Treasury.””
Ends