Scottish Affairs Committee to look at creative industries in Scotland

23rd July 2015

The Scottish Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into the creative industries in Scotland.

The Committee will look at the contribution of the creative industries in Scotland to employment and the economy, and consider how UK policy—in areas such as tax reliefs and intellectual property rights—affects these industries.

Pete Wishart MP, Chair of the Committee, stated:"The creative industries in Scotland have a proud history, and are also extremely important to the Scottish and UK economies in the present day, employing tens of thousands of people and contributing billions of pounds to the economy.

The Scottish Government has designated the creative industries as one of the key growth sectors in Scotland, but there is also a need to consider the UK-wide context for the creative industries in Scotland. We want to examine how the policies of the UK Government affect these industries and how they could better support the creative industries in Scotland.

The Committee will be looking at policies around intellectual property rights, tax reliefs, and how the Scottish creative industries are marketed at home and abroad. We also want to hear from industry representatives and the local communities where these industries are based."

Terms of reference

The Committee has invited evidence on the following issues:

1. What is the footprint and economic value of the creative industries in Scotland?

(a) How does this compare to the UK as a whole?

2. How do the creative industries in Scotland differ to the creative industries in the UK as a whole?

3. How effectively do the UK, Scottish and local governments work together to promote the creative industries of Scotland at home and abroad?

4. What are the barriers to the growth of the creative industries in Scotland, and how can these be overcome?

(a) What, if any, changes need to be made to enable the creative industries to capitalise on their Intellectual Property?

5. What can the UK Government do to create an environment which encourages growth in the creative industries in Scotland?

6. How could the system of tax reliefs for the creative industries better encourage growth of these industries in Scotland?

(a) What, if any, tailored support is needed for the creative industries in Scotland?

Send written submissions via the form available on our inquiry page (available on http://www.parliament.uk/scotaffcom). The deadline for written submissions is Friday 4 September.

You can also contribute to the debate on Twitter [AT]Scotaffcom, on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scottish-Affairs-Committee/832068900211762?fref=ts
or using the hashtag #CreativeScot on social media.

Committee membership:

Pete Wishart (Chair) Scottish National Party

Mr David Anderson Labour

Kirsty Blackman Scottish National Party

Mr Christopher Chope Conservative

Mr Jim Cunningham Labour

Margaret Ferrier Scottish National Party

Mr Stephen Hepburn Labour

Chris Law Scottish National Party

Dr Poulter Conservative

John Stevenson Conservative

Maggie Throup Conservative