Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the main areas of (a) strength and (b) weakness of the creative industries. [35623]

Ed Vaizey MP, Minister of State: I have not made any specific assessment of the main areas of strength and weakness of the creative industries. However, the Creative Industries Economic Estimates Report produced by DCMS in December 2010 reported that the creative industries, excluding crafts, accounted for 5.6% of gross value added to the UK economy in 2008.

Potential opportunities and barriers to growth in this sector will be considered as part of the digital and creative industries growth review.