Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has she made of the impact of the UK Film industry on Scotland's economy.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Creative Industries policy is an area of devolved competency in Scotland. It is the responsibility of the Scottish Government to make an assessment of the economic impact of the UK Film Industry on Scotland. However, a report from Screen Scotland estimates that in 2021 the wider Film & TV sector in Scotland supported 10,940 FTE (full time equivalent) workers, with an overall economic contribution to Scotland’s economy of £627.1 million. Furthermore, VisitScotland’s research shows that up to 18% of inbound visitors from its top international markets visit a film or TV location during their trips to Scotland.
Through our Arm’s Length Body the British Film Institute (BFI), the government supports the film sector across the UK. The government has worked with the BFI to ensure a wide range of funding and initiatives are available to support Scottish production and the development of talent. Examples of support for the Scottish film industry include the BFI Film Fund, the BFI NETWORK and the BFI Film Audience Network, which use National Lottery Funding for development, production, distribution and promotion, supporting Scottish films, Scottish audiences and emerging Scottish filmmakers.
The British Film Commission (BFC), a national body predominantly funded by DCMS, also supports and promotes UK-wide film and high-end television production, including in Scotland. It works in close partnership with Screen Scotland, the national screen agency for Scotland funded by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. Scotland is featured as part of all BFC marketing campaigns and assets, including show reels, websites and brochures, that are designed to facilitate film making and promote British locations. The BFC facilitates regular business development meetings with international film and television clients for representatives from all UK nations, including Scotland.
DCMS also has regular meetings on the film industry with Devolved Government officials, in particular to discuss the DCMS-funded UK Global Screen Fund which is designed to boost international development, production, distribution, and promotional opportunities for the independent screen sector across all nations including Scotland.