UK games industry
Promising noises from the House of Lords Communications Committee.
January 25, 2010
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, said today that the House of Lords Communications Committee had effectively backed TIGA’s campaign for Games Tax Relief. The Committee published its first report into The British Film and Television Industries today. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, made the case for a games production tax credit in evidence to the Committee in July 2009, together with other industry figures, including TIGA member Simon Gardner, CEO of Climax Studios.
The House of Lords Communications Committee said:
“We recognise the claims of the videogames industry for support in the face of foreign government-subsidised competition, and recommend that the Government consider providing tax incentives for videogames production.”
(See http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldselect/ldcomuni/37/3706.htm).
Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:
“It is very encouraging that the cross-party, highly respected House of Lords Communications Committee has recommended that the Government should consider providing tax incentives for videogames production.
“We know that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s priority is to introduce Games Tax Relief. Additionally, Ed Vaizey MP, Conservative Shadow Arts Minister, said at a Westminster eForum event on January 21, 2010 that while he could not make a firm promise, he would want to introduce a tax measure supportive of the video games sector within two to three years of a Conservative administration, if the Party was to be elected to Government in the general election this year. TIGA’s Games Tax Relief campaign is gaining significant supporters. We will continue to advance the case to HM Treasury.”
Jason Kingsley, Chairman of TIGA and CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion Studios, said:
“Today’s report by the House of Lords Communications Committee demonstrates that TIGA’s relentless campaign on behalf of the UK games industry is making an impact. Senior politicians from the key political parties now aspire to introduce TIGA’s Games Tax Relief. We will continue to drive the argument forward, as well as advancing policies and services to benefit the games industry in other ways.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
House of Lords Communications Committee has published its first report into ‘The British Film and Television Industries’. The document can be accessed from the following link:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200910/ldselect/ldcomuni/37/3702.htm
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 outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership.
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: 0845 0941095; Mob: 07875 939643; or Email: richard.wilson@tiga.org, or, Eva Field, TIGA PR Manager on: 07814 039 983, or email eva@tiga.org.