To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to foster and develop the growth of the British film industry. (134576)

The Government are fostering the growth of the British film industry through their strategic agency the UK Film Council. This was set up in 2000 to create a sustainable film industry and to promote the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of cinema throughout the nations and regions of the UK. The Government have also introduced generous new fiscal incentives to support the production of British films by delivering benefit directly to producers and by stimulating inward investment into the UK film industry from overseas.

Following extensive consultation, the UK Film Council has recently submitted its next three year plan to my Department. This sets out the Council’s future strategic and funding priorities and details the initiatives it will be running to deliver these objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the investment returns were for the Film Council from National Lottery funding in August 2006; (134836)

The following table shows the UK’s Film Council income from the National Lottery Distribution Fund in August 2006, and in the entire financial year 2006-07.