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"Disappointing" Government response to Creative industries in Scotland report

21 June 2016

The Scottish Affairs Committee publishes the Government's response to its report on Creative industries in Scotland.

Chair's comments

Responding to the Government's response, Committee chair Pete Wishart said:

"I am grateful that the Government has welcomed the Scottish Affairs Committee's report into the creative industries, and recognised the success of these industries in Scotland. It is a shame that the positive tone of the Government's response—which states that the UK Government and its agencies are committed to working with the Scottish Government to help the sector continue to grow in Scotland—is not reflected in the way it has responded to many of our substantive recommendations.

It is particularly disappointing that the Government has decided not to broaden the remit of the Creative Industries Council— the main means by which UK Government engages with industry at a strategic level—to include Scotland, despite recognising that a number of the issues the Council discusses, such as Intellectual Property and promoting exports, are reserved. When we heard from the Minister for the Creative Industries he accepted that the exclusion of Scotland from this Council should be looked at, but the Government's response makes it clear that including a voice for Scotland on the Council is not a priority.

It is also remarkable that in the 10 months since we announced our inquiry the Government has not been able to establish the level of public funding for the creative industries in Scotland. In the absence of this information it is impossible to be sure that Scotland's creative industries are getting their fair share of public support.

Given the importance of the creative industries to Scotland, we will continue to monitor how UK policy affects these industries, and may return to this subject later in the Parliament."

Further information

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