The government welcomes the Committee’s report on British film and high-end television (HETV), noting the significant time and commitment dedicated by the current Committee and its predecessor Committee in the last Parliament. We fully support the fundamental tenets of the report: that our vibrant UK film and HETV industry makes a vital economic, social and cultural contribution to the UK, and that it requires active support to thrive. The government’s commitment to this industry is absolute. We want the UK to be the best place in the world to make films and HETV, which is why film and TV has been identified as a priority for growth within our Creative Industries Sector Plan, which itself is a key component of the government’s Industrial Strategy. We have, with the Committee’s permission, delayed our response to the Committee’s report, so as to be able to incorporate key aspects of the Sector Plan into our response. In short, we want a healthy, mixed film and TV landscape, where public service broadcasters provide an engine room of creativity; where a strong independent sector creates more UK IP, producing and distributing British content seen at home and around the world; and where major inward investment continues to inject money into the economy, create jobs and nurture our creative and technical skills excellence. UK film and HETV content is amongst the best, from Bridgerton to Bridget Jones, and Rivals to Rye Lane, with iconic characters like Paddington, Wallace & Gromit and Harry Potter recognised around the world. UK production spend on film and HETV reached £5.6 billion in 2024, a 31% increase since 2023, with £4.8bn of this total coming from inward investment and co-productions. There are over 180,000 passionate, talented people working across film and television production. And we are at the cutting edge of creativity, with our strength in visual effects and virtual production positioning us well for next-generation content creation. ... The government agrees with the Committee that it is not just production but distribution and exhibition that underpin the economic and cultural success of the film and TV sector.