Shaun Woodward Is New Minister For Creative Industries And Tourism
PRESS Release
on http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/press_notices/archive_2006/dcms_064.htm
8 May 2006
New Creative Industries and Tourism Minister Shaun Woodward today pledged to harness his first hand experience working in broadcasting to understand and promote Britain's outstanding creative industries Mr Woodward said his 10 years in the broadcasting industry ideally placed him to tackle challenges such as the switch to digital television between 2008 and 2012, the completion of the BBC Charter Review and licence fee settlement and positioning the UK's creative industries at the heart of our economy.
He also looked forward to working with the tourism and hospitality industry, in particular to ensure the potential benefits of staging the 2012 Olympics were fully realised.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said:
"I'm very pleased to welcome Shaun to DCMS. He arrives at an important time. I look forward to working with him on everything from digital switchover, to licensing, to keeping our film and music industries healthy and vibrant."
Shaun Woodward said:
"Ten years of working in the broadcasting industry will undoubtedly help me both understand and promote the creative industries within Britain and across the world.
"This is a massively expanding part of the UK economy and represents a collective set of industries for which the Government must create a climate to enable further growth and expansion. Whether it's television, film, computer games or the music business we have a fantastic set of opportunities with which I am thrilled to engage.
"Tourism is a vital part of the UK economy employing more than two million people. The tourism industry rightly wants Government to create a climate for further growth and promotion and I hope to be a vibrant champion in the months ahead
"Undoubtedly the 2012 Olympics will offer a unique opportunity to the UK tourism industry and I want to ensure that we seize this moment."
Mr Woodward replaces James Purnell who has been appointed Minister of State for Pensions at the Department for Work and Pensions.
Tessa Jowell added:
"I would like to thank James Purnell for all his work over the last year, particularly on successfully implementing the Licensing Act and playing a key role in shaping the White Paper on the future of the BBC. I wish him well in his new role."
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Notes to Editors
1. Mr Woodward's ministerial responsibilities are:
- Broadcasting
- The creative industries, including film and music
- Tourism
- Alcohol and entertainment licensing
- Press and censorship
- IT and e-government
- Science and sustainable development (including green issues).
2. From 1982 Mr Woodward worked in BBC TV News and Current Affairs. He was a Researcher on That's Life!, Producer of Newsnight; Senior Producer of Panorama and until 1991 was Editor of That's Life!
He has published three books, including in 1984 a number one bestseller with Esther Rantzen, 'Ben Hardwick' about the real life story of a child needing a life-saving liver transplant. He has also written about drug abuse and tranquillizer addiction.
Prior to DCMS, Mr Woodward was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office.
Mr Woodward was elected Labour MP for St Helens South in 2001 and re-elected in 2005. He was a member of the Parliamentary Joint Commons and Lords Committee of Human Rights from 2001 to 2005. He was formerly a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and European Union Scrutiny Select Committee.
Born in Bristol on 26 October 1958, Shaun Anthony Woodward was educated at Bristol Grammar School and at Cambridge University, where he read English Literature. He subsequently taught at The Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and at Queen Mary and Westfield College, London University.
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