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The new government must push further on a range of issues from digital piracy to VAT, regardless of who holds the keys to 10 Downing Street, key figures from the publishing industry have said. As the United Kingdom wakes up to the prospects of a hung parliament, The Bookseller asked a number of book trade leaders for what they want from a new government. Leading members of the book trade stressed the importance of working on a wide range of areas to help strengthen the industry irrespective of who wins.
Many insiders highlighted the importance of tackling the Digital Economy Act, which was passed in the wash-out shortly before parliament was dissolved but with the orphan works clause omitted, and also the libel reform laws, which were delayed because of the election.
A large swathe of the sector called for VAT to be removed from e-books and expressed their satisfaction that both Labour and the Tories had pledged not to add it to books.
The wider economy was also a big issue for companies across the spectrum, with concerns raised about business rates, tax and National Insurance contributions.
Simon Juden, chief executive of the Publishers Association
"The Google Book Settlement decision has yet to be announced in the US but once a decision has been reached, the new government must be ready to deal with any consequences. The commitment to reform our libel laws should be honoured by the new government, owing to the substantial efforts put in over the last year to scrutinise and challenge this area of legislation. The Digital Economy Act left out a crucial clause relating to orphan works. This is a controversial subject for various groups within the creative industries, but from publishers’ perspectives it would serve to provide clarity and regulation to a vague area of legislation.
"The Publishers Association will be working to strengthen links with the new administration, and we will ensure that new ministers are briefed on our core issues. We, alongside other associations and lobbyists, are keen to assess the impact of a hung parliament on future legislative decisions, and the subsequent effects for the publishing industry. Of major concern is the possibility that the process of passing legislation may become more arduous and subject to major debates and disagreement when no party has a clear majority. Most groups, and the general public, will want to see evidence of an effective government capable of making and carrying out decisions. The next few months will be crucial in determining this."
Richard Charkin, chief executive of Bloomsbury
"[The new government] should abolish VAT on digital information and treat it in the same way as it treats the printed book. Clearly, our future as a knowledge economy would be enhanced."
Tom Holland, chairman of the Society of Authors
"My specific wish is for the PLR to have better funding, or at least no cuts. It’s a tiny part of the Department of Culture expenditure yet an absolute lifeline to so many authors. My fantasy wish is that the government imposes a legal limit on the discounts that can be imposed by retailers. It would have the effect of preventing the Tescoisation of book retailing and would have immense benefits for publishers and authors, and protect the biodiversity, as it were, of British literary culture."
Peter Field, Penguin UK m.d.
"I’m pleased we’ve had reassurances they won’t put VAT on books but I would love to see VAT coming off e-books. That would really help us make prices more attractive and harmonise us around Europe."
Tim Hely Hutchinson, chief executive of Hachette UK
"[The main priorities are] to make it more attractive to employ people and stop raiding pensions with stealth taxes. It has been shockingly difficult for school and college leavers to find good work. That is a real tragedy and so is the thought of people retiring on a pittance because politicians cynically thought they would not notice future-affecting taxes as much as current ones."
Victoria Barnsley, HarperCollins c.e.o. and PA president
The main thing any business leader would ask for is a stable economy with low interest rates. After that, with my PA hat on, I would ask for sensible implementation of the Digital Economy Act including strong protection of intellectual property and copyright. Mainly I want policies that will maintain the UK’s position as a creative hub and a world leader in the arts."
Tim Godfray, chief executive of the Booksellers Association
"We hope the new government will demonstrate that it is supporting the retail sector and that, in particular, business rates and NI contributions will be frozen. We hope that the principle of copyright will be fully supported and that an agreement will be obtained on how best to deal with orphan works. Finally, we hope that the next minister of culture will ensure that libraries have to charge borrowers when loaning an e-book and that the money obtained can be ring-fenced and used by the library to spend more on books."
Jonny Geller, Curtis Brown
"Literacy has got to be a pretty big issue—Quick Reads and all those initiatives getting people reading earlier. I was reading about a study in the paper the other week, saying some children who go to primary school have never had a story read to them. When Cameron’s doing that ‘big society’ stuff, that’s the only way I can see it applying to the book trade."