Welcome

To the website of the All Party Parliamentary Writers Group

The creative industries form a hugely significant part of the UK economy and will have a major role to play in our efforts to establish a more financially stable future. These industries are built around the talent and hard work of creative individuals and I am therefore delighted to be involved with this group at such an important time for creators.

The digital environment presents both opportunities and challenges for writers and there are many questions ahead concerning how best the new technology can be harnessed to achieve a balance between access and fair reward. Debates over copyright will no doubt continue in the coming years and I look forward to working with members of the All Party Writers Group to ensure that the writer’s voice is heard in these important discussions at the appropriate level.

John Whittingdale MP
Chair of the APWG

What the Dickens?

7th February 2012

To be held on The Terrace at the House of Commons. More information to be posted closer to the time.

To RSVP or find out more, speak to Barbara Hayes by 3 February 2012.

Email: barbara.hayes@alcs.co.uk
Tel: 020 7264 5709

Click here to see more events.

News

3 August 2011

The Government response to the Hargreaves Report was published today. A copy of the response is available to download from the IPO website
www.ipo.gov.uk/ipresponse.

The ALCS press release commenting on the response is available to download here.

A briefing note will follow shortly.

29 June 2011

APWG AGM and Summer Drinks Reception

On 29 June the APWG held its AGM. All officers of the group stood unopposed for a further term. The meeting also included: a briefing by ALCS about the issues affecting writers within the Hargreaves review, an address about the importance of literacy in the UK today from Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, and an update on the situation regarding libraries from Annie Mauger, Chief Executive of CILIP.

Notes from the AGM can be downloaded here.
A review of the work of the APWG over the last year can be downloaded here
The briefing note from ALCS to the APWG about the Hargreaves Review can be downloaded here

18 May 2011
The Independent Review of Intellectual Property and Growth, carried out by Professor Hargreaves has been published. Click here to see the full report and recommendations.

28 March 2011
The Culture Media and Sport Committee published their Third Report of session 2010-11 on Funding of the Arts and Heritage. A full version of the report can be viewed below.

CMS Committee Inquiry into the funding of the Arts and Heritage: March 2011

Of particular relevance to writers is the recommendation that the Public Lending Right body would be best administered by an organisation such as ALCS.
The press release from the Committee can be downloaded below.

Culture Media and Sport Committee Press Notice

The press release from ALCS on the same subject can be downloaded below.