Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the main areas of (a) strength and (b) weakness of the fashion industry. [35624]

Ed Vaizey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, DCMS: I have been asked to reply.

I have not made any specific assessment of the main areas of strength and weakness of the fashion industry. However, the British Fashion Council has recently published the Value of Fashion report which shows that fashion makes a significant contribution to the UK economy and confirms British fashion's status as one of our most important creative industries.

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