Written question asked by Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 25 March 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 April 2002. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 April 2002 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on her Department's plans to improve the dissemination of statistics on the creative industries; and what progress has been made towards that aim. - Including ref to www.culture.gov.uk/creative/mapping.html.

Answer: Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's plans to improve the dissemination of statistics on the creative industries; and what progress has been made towards that aim. [46648] Dr. Howells: In March 2001 my Department published the second Creative Industries Mapping Document, providing a measure of the economic contribution of the creative industries to the UK. This document remains relevant and is available from my Department's website at www.culture.gov.uk/creative/mapping.html. My Department is also working closely with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in order to develop estimates that report on the performance of the creative industries nationally. We are also working with the Regional Development Agencies (RDA) on a broad framework for the collation of statistics, including those for the creative industries, in order to provide consistency across the regions. The Department is considering, in cooperation with other stakeholders, whether there is a need for a further mapping exercise.

Secondary information