'Further' Tax Breaks for UK Video Game Industry

The UK's damaged New Labour government is "looking at" tax breaks for the UK video game industry. So says newly appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and former Blairite, Ben Bradshaw.

Questioned by Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, about whether the government's final 'Digital Britain' report will take heed "of the interests of the very successful UK video games industry", Bradshaw responded, "I assure my honourable Friend that we do recognise the importance of the video games industry to the British economy.

"Research and development tax credits are available for the industry, and we are looking at introducing further tax breaks."

'Further' tax breaks? Currently the tax credits are available for research and development across the UK's IT industry. As yet, unlike Canada, France and Australia, no specific tax 'breaks' have been targeted at the video games industry.

This was part of a Commons question and answer session on the upcoming report.

Prior to Bradshaw's appointment this month, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been resistant to offering tax breaks to the UK games industry, an attitude that has attracted much ire from industry bodies such as Tiga. Could Bradshaw's appointment be a turning point? Maybe, but the Labour government has a bit of a sh!tstorm to survive first.

The final report is due in early Summer. That's any time now, by SPOnG's reckoning. We'll await further details...