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.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he plans to take to support the voluntary sector in Scotland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Volunteering is a devolved policy area. However, the UK Government funded and supported the launch of the 2024 Big Help Out, which was a UK-wide campaign and took place on 7-9 June. It aimed to raise awareness of volunteering and provided opportunities for people to support their communities. This event followed the success of the inaugural day of community volunteering to mark the Coronation of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty The Queen, held on 8 May 2023.
Millions of people took part in last year’s Big Help Out with a huge range of charities and voluntary organisations providing people with the opportunity to try out and experience volunteering.
UK Government officials will continue to engage with the devolved administrations on matters relating to volunteering policy and shared insights.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the impact of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund on (a) local business in Scotland, (b) social enterprises in Scotland and (c) Stirling and Strathallan constituency.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund ‘Supporting Local Business’ investment priority, which includes support for social enterprises, local authorities in Scotland have already spent £10.9m as of April 2024. This includes close to £400,000 spent in Stirling, and more than £270,000 spent in Perth and Kinross.
Year 3 payments have now been paid to local authorities, and we anticipate further investment under this priority in the third year of the fund.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is committed to evaluating and publishing findings on the impacts of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Scotland is a key component of this evaluation. The UKSPF evaluation strategy clearly sets out the approach to evaluation.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in levels of economic inactivity in Stirling and Strathallan constituency.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
o A new public employment and careers service to help get more people into work, and on in their work.
o New, bespoke joined-up work, health and skills plans for the economically inactive, with input from mayors, local councils, the NHS, businesses, colleges and the voluntary sector to deliver real employment opportunities for local people
o A youth guarantee for all people aged 18 to 21 to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or employment support
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help increase levels of workforce economic activity in rural areas.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government considers the current rate of inactivity to be unacceptably high. With nearly 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness and the inactivity rate above pre-pandemic levels at 21.9% for May-July 2024, unlike most major economies, our overall employment rate has failed to recover to its pre-pandemic level.
This is why we have set a long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate. We will publish a white paper which sets out further details on our plans to tackle economic inactivity, support people into good work, and help them to progress in work. The Get Britain Working White Paper will build on manifesto commitments, setting out how fundamental reform will be delivered in three, interconnected parts:
o A new public employment and careers service to help get more people into work, and on in their work.
o New, bespoke joined-up work, health and skills plans for the economically inactive, led by Mayors and local authorities to address the needs of their communities.
o A youth guarantee for all people aged 18 to 21.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on promoting innovation and skills through the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Since coming into office, I have had several meetings with the Scottish Government, including the Deputy First Minister. We have discussed a range of key issues including economic growth across all of Scotland, which is the priority mission of this UK Government.
The jointly funded City Region and Growth Deals programme, including the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal, is a fundamental element to the economic growth plan.
The UK Government commitment to the deal is for £45.1m, the Scottish Government have also committed £45.1m and with partner contributions this make it a £214m Deal.
The UK Government commitment covered investment in the following: Clackmannanshire Fund, National Aquaculture Technology Innovation Hub, Scotland’s International Environment Centre, the transfer of MoD land at Forthside, the National Tartan Centre and skills and employability provision in Alloa.
Asked by: Chris Kane (Labour - Stirling and Strathallan)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the progress of City Deals projects in Scotland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Since coming into office, I have had several meetings with the Scottish Government, including the Deputy First Minister. Economic growth is the key mission of this Government and one that I am absolutely committed to delivering in partnership with the Scottish Government. City Region and Growth Deals are a fundamental part of this mission.
Since coming into office, the UK Government and Scottish Government have jointly agreed the £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal.