The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has announced that it will continue its work of examining the challenges faced by the film and high-end television industry.

The previous incarnation of the Committee started its inquiry into this area in the summer of 2023 and began to hear evidence earlier this year. However, the calling of the general election – and subsequent dissolution of parliament – meant that all parliamentary select committees were disbanded, and the status of their work to date was left in limbo. Before leaving her post, the Chair, Dame Caroline Dineage, wrote to the previous Culture Secretary urging the new committee to continue her and her colleagues’ work. This included, for example, investigating whether the challenges to the industry post-Covid “could have been mitigated if the UK had a stronger domestic, independent sector and was less reliant on inward production”, and what needed to be done to improve the skills, working conditions, and retention of staff in the industry.

The new committee has now been re-appointed (Dame Caroline Dineage retaining her role as Chair) and has confirmed that it will resume its work as it launches a ‘sequel’ to its previous inquiry.

In a statement, the committee says that it will build on the success of the last. This means not only “continuing to examine the attractiveness of the UK as a global destination for production and what more could be done to ensure that it has the skilled workforce it needs”, but also considering the use of AI in film-making, the role of the BFI, and the Government’s vision for the sector.

Commenting on the launch of the inquiry, Dame Caroline said “the predecessor committee’s work in the last Parliament featured some blockbuster successes, securing tax incentives from the Treasury to support independent film and visual effects and raising awareness of the huge importance of the industry to the UK’s economy and culture. While the general election left a real cliffhanger for the sector, I’m delighted it is now lights, camera, action once again. Like any good sequel, the new Committee’s inquiry will follow up important themes from last time, while moving the story on to shine a light on how the industry can best thrive into the future…there is a constant challenge to make sure the UK maintains and enhances its status as a global destination for production. Our inquiry will make sure the industry and new Government have the right vision and measures in place to ensure the British film and high-end TV sector remains a powerhouse on the world stage.”