Axe Falls On UK Film Council

The UK Film Council is to be abolished as part of cost-cutting measures announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced the decision as part of measures that would see 55 public bodies facing either mergers, streamlining or abolition, in a bid to save money.

Mr Hunt said that the UK Film Council, which was established by the Labour government in 2000 to develop and promote British films, would be abolished so that "a direct and less bureaucatic" relationship could be developed with the British Film Institute. He said that government support and Lottery funding for film would continue.

The other proposals include plans to abolish the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, the Advisory Council on Libraries and the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites and merging UK Sport and Sport England, in order to create "a more effective structure to deliver elite sport success and a wider sports legacy from the 2012 games".

Announcing the proposals, the Culture Secretary said: "The Government is committed to increasing the transparency and accountability of its public bodies, while at the same time reducing their number and cost.

"Many of these bodies were set up a considerable length of time ago, and times and demands have changed. In the light of the current financial situation, and as part of our drive to increase openess and efficiency across Whitehall, it is the right time to look again at the role, size and scope of these organisations.

"The changes I have proposed today would help us deliver fantastic culture, media and sport, while ensuring value for money for the public and transparency about where taxpayers' money is spent."

Tim Bevan, Chairman of the Film Council, described the announcement as a "bad decision" and a "big mistake". He said: "Abolishing the most successful film support organisation the UK has ever had is a bad decision, imposed without any consultation or evaluation. People will rightly look back on today's announcement and say it was a big mistake, driven by short-term thinking and political expediency. British film, which is one of the UK's more successful growth industries, deserves better."

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has also announced that a number of health watchdogs are to be axed under the new cost-cutting reforms. These include the Health Protection Agency, the fertility watchdog, the HFEA and the National Patient Safety Agency.

(KMcA/BMcC)