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The MP for Malden John Whittingdale has been elected as the new chair of the All Party Writers Group.
The group said Whittingdale had "taken a keen interest in copyright protection, and supported the Digital Economy Act as it progressed through parliament, quoting him as saying it was needed because “We need to send a signal that we take the issue of piracy seriously”.
More recently Whittingdale was re-elected as chairman of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, a position he has held since 2005.
He said: “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."
To support John Whittingdale in his role Denis MacShane MP remains on the Group as Vice Chair and award-winning author Baroness Ruth Rendell has taken over the role of secretary from the new Minister for Culture, Ed Vaizey. Jim Dowd MP takes on the role of Treasurer.
Novelist and recently-elected Conservative MP Louise Bagshawe has also joined the group, and plans to attend the party's fringe conference on 3rd October 2010 in Birmingham as a panelist on a debate looking at the future of the book. She will appear alongside Vaizey, Bloomsbury publisher Richard Charkin and Google’s Sarah Hunter.