Minister confirms Government considering industry support
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today welcomed the comments by John Penrose MP
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, today welcomed the comments by John Penrose MP, a Minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), in which he assured parliamentarians that the Government is considering support for the video games industry.
He announced the Government’s position in a parliamentary debate yesterday afternoon on future support for the video games industry. The debate was secured by the Dundee West MP, Jim McGovern.
Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, stated:
“Thanks to TIGA’s unremitting campaign to champion the UK video games industry the Government has confirmed in the House of Commons that our industry remains on its agenda. Last week’s parliamentary debate saw MPs discuss a number of proposals which TIGA has been advocating for a sustained period of time, including Games Tax Relief, expanding the scope of the SME R&D tax credit and developing a Creative Content Fund.
“John Penrose MP, a DCMS Minister, rightly quoted the PricewaterhouseCoopers figures [1] which show in his words the ‘long-term potential of the global market’. However, whilst the commitment to continue reviewing industry support is welcome, if the Government hesitates for too long the UK could fail to take advantage of this long-term potential.
“TIGA will continue to refine and to enhance the case for Games Tax Relief, the SME R&D tax credit and other measures to power the UK games industry forward. We will work with the UK Government and parties across the political divide to power the UK video games industry forward.”
Jim McGovern MP stated:
“I was delighted to have secured this debate in parliament. This has been a long running campaign, and one that deserves to be taken seriously by this Government.”
“The Minister seemingly failed to grasp the fact that international competition was leading to jobs moving abroad, and he failed to recognise that that government must introduce incentives that rival our competitors. They must introduce specific solutions to the specific problems faced by the computer games industry as a matter of priority.”
“I received a great deal of cross party support in this debate. This is a campaign that will continue. The government persists in failing to see that we are being outwitted by our international competitors. I will go on pressing them to introduce the policies that the computer games industry needs in order to succeed for the benefit of Dundee and the wider UK economy.”
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Notes to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’ at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National Management and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’. TIGA is an Investors in People organisation.
TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.
For further information, please contact Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on 07875939643: or email richard.wilson@tiga.org; or contact David Hodges on 02070911653
He announced the Government’s position in a parliamentary debate yesterday afternoon on future support for the video games industry. The debate was secured by the Dundee West MP, Jim McGovern.
Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, stated:
“Thanks to TIGA’s unremitting campaign to champion the UK video games industry the Government has confirmed in the House of Commons that our industry remains on its agenda. Last week’s parliamentary debate saw MPs discuss a number of proposals which TIGA has been advocating for a sustained period of time, including Games Tax Relief, expanding the scope of the SME R&D tax credit and developing a Creative Content Fund.
“John Penrose MP, a DCMS Minister, rightly quoted the PricewaterhouseCoopers figures [1] which show in his words the ‘long-term potential of the global market’. However, whilst the commitment to continue reviewing industry support is welcome, if the Government hesitates for too long the UK could fail to take advantage of this long-term potential.
“TIGA will continue to refine and to enhance the case for Games Tax Relief, the SME R&D tax credit and other measures to power the UK games industry forward. We will work with the UK Government and parties across the political divide to power the UK video games industry forward.”
Jim McGovern MP stated:
“I was delighted to have secured this debate in parliament. This has been a long running campaign, and one that deserves to be taken seriously by this Government.”
“The Minister seemingly failed to grasp the fact that international competition was leading to jobs moving abroad, and he failed to recognise that that government must introduce incentives that rival our competitors. They must introduce specific solutions to the specific problems faced by the computer games industry as a matter of priority.”
“I received a great deal of cross party support in this debate. This is a campaign that will continue. The government persists in failing to see that we are being outwitted by our international competitors. I will go on pressing them to introduce the policies that the computer games industry needs in order to succeed for the benefit of Dundee and the wider UK economy.”
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’ at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National Management and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’. TIGA is an Investors in People organisation.
TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.
For further information, please contact Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on 07875939643: or email richard.wilson@tiga.org; or contact David Hodges on 02070911653
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