Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has revealed that the UK Government may be planning ‘several’ centres of excellence in video games in the UK, not just the one in Salford which caused so much concern within the world-leading Scottish centre as a potential ‘brain-drain’ for the Dundee-based industry.

The admission comes in a lettter dated 30 September to the MP from the UK Government Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills Stephen Timms MP. The Dundee MP has been raising detailed questions on how the development of a new video games centre in Salford will impact upon the current activities at the University of Abertay.

The questions are the latest round in a correspondence between the MP and the UK Minister sparked by the publication of the Digital Bitain Report’s recommendation of a proposed new video games facility in the North West.

That Report, while praising the work of the world-leading games industry in the Centre of Excellence centred around Dundee’s Abertay University, suggested the second centre would ‘now take forward’ the development of video games, and suggested Government funding would be available for the second centre.

The video games industry in Scotland reacted with immediate alarm and this was reflected by local MSP Joe FitzPatrick, who questioned the move and called for UK Government to consider tax breaks for research & development work such as is available in Canada and other competitor countries.

Mr Hosie’s most recent reply from Stephen Timms, Minister for Business, Innovation & Skills, suggests there might ‘in time… (be) several centres of excellence around the UK.’

The Dundee MP has now written [9 October] to question the UK Government consultant’s assessment that the development of a centre in Salford would add to the sector’s capacity and not detract from the current activities at the University of Abertay or elsewhere,

Stewart Hosie said: “I have asked if they can clarify how this will be measured and what action they might take if there is a clear detrimental impact on what is already a centre of excellence in Dundee.

“Secondly, the Minister has stated that the UK Government recently took receipt of a bid from the Scottish Government for SIF support. I would wish to back this bid, especially as UK Ministers have suggested there would be “substantial” public funds available for the Salford project, if it succeeds.

Speaking today on the situation, Stewart Hosie said: “I am holding the UK Government to account on this important matter. It is a of vital importance to Dundee that we do not find another centre – or other centres – developing at public expense through the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) when the Abertay-based industry is also hoping to get access to such funding from the same fund.

“And I want to know precisely how the impact on the existing centre at Abertay will be measured, so that we can aware of any undermining or adverse impact as soon as it becomes apparent.

“I am aware that requests for evidence for tax relief for computer game development have been sought and analysed. I hope this will lead to a firm announcement at the pre-Budget Statement later this year

“Tax relief for computer game development has already been hinted at and I hope there will be a firm commitment to this at the pre-Budget Statement.”