The UK Cinema Association has given a warm welcome to the final report of the House of Commons Select Committee on on Culture, Media and Sport’s report on British Film and High End TV, published this week.
The report, details of which can be found here, sets out the Committee’s conclusions after an Inquiry re-launched last October after its initial work was curtailed by the General Election, and contains a number of recommendations relevant to the interests of UK cinema operators, specifically:
- support for the proposal put forward by colleagues at the Film Distributors’ Association for a tax credit to support the marketing and distribution of lower-budget UK films;
- supports for the UK Cinema Association’s proposal that Government explore the benefits of a permanently-reduced level of VAT on cinema tickets as part of a wider push to remove barriers to cultural activity;
- support for exploring the case for a capital fund to invest in infrastructure, particularly around energy efficiency, as strongly suggested by the Association.
The Association also notes the Committee’s proposal for the establishment of a system of core funding for ‘culturally relevant’ independent cinemas.
During the course of the Committee’s Inquiry, the Association (and a number of its key members) submitted written and oral evidence, so we are grateful to see our key proposal reflected this final report.
We look forward to working with DCMS Ministers and officials to explore how best to take these recommendations forward.