TIGA urges government to reconsider DCMS abolition
Department of Culture, Media and Sport under threat in tax-cut measure
The industry trade body TIGA has strongly advised the UK government against abolishing the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
The abolition of the DCMS to fund tax cuts was proposed in a recent report from the Institute of Economic Affairs, but TIGA CEO Richard Wilson believes that the move would save very little money - a significant number of the DCMS's activities would continue even if it was abolished as a separate entity.
"Abolition of the DCMS would entail costs. Tacit knowledge would be lost in any reorganization, thereby impairing government performance. There would also be financial costs because organizational changes of this nature typically incur expenses," he said in a statement.
The DCMS is responsible for a broad range of policy areas, including broadcasting, tourism and the creative industries. Without a representative department, Wilson believes that the UK games industry would be one of many to suffer.
"The creative industries, including video games, are important for the future economic success of the UK. They need a focused department and a voice in government," he added.
Oh no. Disaster.
When the game industry was looked after by the department of industry (or whatever it was called) because we were "technology" (a mistake much of the media, including the BBC, perpetuate) it was utterly terrible. A succession of ministers turned up for E3 to get a West Coast jaunt but they didn't have the faintest idea about what we do or what our value is.
The current DCMS arrangement works well for us because the politicians and the civil servants are as on message as they can be.
Posted:A year ago