To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much revenue has been raised from the film production industry in Northern Ireland since 28 July 2005. (96133)

The Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission is the lead organisation in developing the film and television industry in Northern Ireland. The Commission administers the Northern Ireland Film Production Fund which is a £5.5 million fund that aims to attract inward investment in the form of high value productions—both feature films and television drama—to shoot on location in Northern Ireland.

Since 28 July 2005, £8.1 million of additional revenue has been raised from the film production industry by this fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to market Northern Ireland as a base for film production. (96134)

The Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission is the lead organisation in developing the film and television industry in Northern Ireland. The Commission has a comprehensive marketing strategy in place and actively markets Northern Ireland as a location for film and television production. This strategy includes:

Advertising in leading trade papers such as Screen International, Broadcast and Variety and lobbying of local press to include articles or news items;

Establishing a joint marketing initiative with the Irish Film Board (Irish Pavilion) at Cannes where high-level meetings are conducted with recognised producers, decision-makers, influences and financiers of independent film;

Support of the UK Pavilion (PACT) at MipTV and MipCom in Cannes;

Use of a number of mediums such as the NIFTC's website, CINI magazine, e-zines and the NIFTC's Production Guide to continually inform the film and television market of the benefits of Northern Ireland as a film location.

In the three year period to 31 March 2007 the Commission expects to have attracted 17 film and television drama productions to shoot on location in Northern Ireland.