Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the proposal by The Independent Game Developers’ Association to introduce a video games investment fund.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s games sector. As part of a wider package to support the growth of the creative industries, the government has committed to an £8 million expansion of the UK Games Fund. The UK Games Fund will continue to provide valuable support to early-stage games development and talented graduates throughout the UK. In addition, the Video Games Tax Relief continues to make the UK one of the leading destinations in the world for making video games.
We are not seeking to take forward a proposal for a new Video Games Investment Fund. We welcome continued discussions with the games industry on how best to support a thriving UK games sector.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department was consulted on the European Commission's decision to discontinue participation of the UK in the European Capital of Culture competition.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The UK Government was informed of the European Commission’s decision on 22 November 2017 with no prior consultation.
The matter has been urgently raised with the European Commission and discussions are continuing. The Government is also in discussions with the five cities that submitted bids to host the European Capital of Culture in 2023.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what representations her Department has received from the European Commission on the reasons for its decision to withdraw the UK entry for the European Capital of Culture in 2023.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The European Commission wrote to the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 22 November 2017. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library. The five candidate cities were informed of the European Commission’s decision on 23 November 2017.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on what date her Department received notification of the European Commission's decision to discontinue participation of the UK in the European Capital of Culture competition.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The European Commission wrote to the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 22 November 2017. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library. The five candidate cities were informed of the European Commission’s decision on 23 November 2017.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the European Commission on the decision to discontinue participation of the UK in the European Capital of Culture competition.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The European Commission wrote to the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 22 November 2017. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library. The five candidate cities were informed of the European Commission’s decision on 23 November 2017.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on the devolution of responsibility for broadcasting policy.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Broadcasting is a reserved matter, in line with the recommendations of the Smith Commission. As Lord Smith has said, the government is delivering the Smith Commission recommendations in full.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times he has visited Scotland in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election; and what meetings were held on each such visit.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Secretary of State regularly visit all parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland. Details of meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and can be accessed via the gov.uk website.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support the Government has provided to video games development companies in Dundee since 2010.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
In 2014 Government introduced video games tax relief to support UK games development, including eligible projects in Dundee. In addition, this Autumn, a 4-year £4 million UK Games Fund was launched. This fund, administered from Dundee and London, includes grants for young games development businesses around the UK, and there has been a strong response from Dundee games developers for calls for applications.
The Fund follows our earlier successful video games prototype fund, run by Abertay University in Dundee from 2010 - 2014, and our support for expansion of the university’s games lab which benefitted a number of Dundee games developers.
Dundee games developers are also able to access a range of other schemes including the Research and Development tax credit, the Tradeshow Access Programme and Government match-funding from the Skills Investment Fund which is managed by Creative Skillset.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support the Government has provided for the Waterfront regeneration project in Dundee.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Museum of Design, V&A Dundee will be a key central feature of the Dundee Waterfront Regeneration project. The Heritage Lottery Fund has contributed almost £14 million to the museum. The project is yet another example among many of a major national museum supporting culture outside London.Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if he will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for his Department from the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport pays all its directly employed staff the living wage and encourages all its sponsored bodies to pay the living wage as well. The department is currently exploring the Living Wage Accreditation with a view to a decision being made by the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.