Region’s creative industries ‘neglected’

THE GOVERNMENT has been accused of neglecting the region’s creative industries after figures revealed it employs just a handful of culture and media staff outside of the capital.

Official data shows the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport employs just six people in the Yorkshire and Humber region, compared to the 642 based in London.

The department is responsible for a range of policy areas, including museum and gallery funding, tourism, superfast broadband and public-sector broadcasting.

Commenting on the figures, which were published in response to a written question, Lib Dem culture spokesman Christine Jardine said they showed an “appalling disregard” for regional media “and the millions of people across the UK who live outside of London”. “With Yorkshire being a potential future home for Channel 4, I cannot see how the Government can continue to neglect the cultural output of this region,” she told The Yorkshire Post.

“The focus on London leaves Yorkshire at a disadvantage. Those media and cultural organisations that are geographically closest to London reap the benefits of their proximity to the decision-makers in London.

“The Liberal Democrats believe that the creative industries are a key business in the UK economy.”

The Government recently announced a £15m Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund designed to boost region’s creative and cultural industries. It is also funding next year’s Great Exhibition of the North and has rolledout superfast broadband to 365,778 properties in the region.