THE UK Chancellor was right to respond to Scotland’s repeated calls for tax relief for the games industry, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said in response to the UK Budget.
Welcoming news that the UK Government will introduce tax relief for the computer games, animation and high-end television production sectors, Ms Hyslop said: “The Scottish Government has repeatedly urged the Chancellor to reconsider his earlier decision not to proceed with tax relief for the games industry.
Fiona Hyslop said the games industry contributed £30 million to the economy
“Just last week, Finance Secretary John Swinney again wrote to George Osborne to highlight the compelling case for tax relief and I am pleased to see that our call for action has, in this Budget, been taken seriously.
“Scotland’s computer games industry is one of our global success stories – supporting around 1,500 jobs and contributing £30 million to our economy while enhancing our worldwide reputation for creativity and innovation.
“Scotland, and Dundee in particular, has the creative skills and capacity to become an international powerhouse of computer games production. Today’s Budget announcement will go some way towards helping to level what for too long has been an uneven global playing field for the sector. It will help the industry to enhance its competitive edge on the international stage and will support the Scottish Government’s work to retain skills and attract talent to Scotland.
“While we welcome tax relief for the games sector, the UK Budget does not go far enough to create the conditions we need for recovery, to support growth and strengthen the economy.
“The Scottish Government is doing everything in its power to support recovery, but we are hindered by the current devolution arrangements and the financial and economic constraints that this places on Scotland.
“Independence will give Scotland full control over tax powers and the opportunity to offer our own tax incentives to enhance the competitive edge of our creative industries on the international stage.”
