A PROMISE of continued tax breaks for the film industry is good news for Yorkshire, said a Huddersfield accountant.
Chancellor Gordon Brown indicated in his pre-Budget speech that he would maintain tax breaks for wealthy people investing in film projects.
The current tax breaks - introduced in the 1997 Budget - are due to expire in July, 2005.
The film industry is lobbying for them to continue.
Tony Maleham, tax specialist with Mazars in Huddersfield, said: "Continued tax breaks to help the UK film industry will be welcomed in Yorkshire, where film has proved an attractive investment for wealthy individuals.
"According to people in the film industry, Yorkshire is the best area in the UK outside of London to win private investment.
"There has been great interest among our clients in the opportunities available and a number of them have invested in film partnerships."
Mr Maleham said that since tax breaks were introduced six years ago, film partnership schemes in the UK had attracted well over £1bn of private investment - and helped to produce box office hits such as Calendar Girls.
They had also proved highly popular with celebrity investors, including footballer David Beckham and his wife Victoria, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, tennis player Tim Henman and musician Peter Gabriel, as well as many private individuals.
