CLOSURE OF TWICKENHAM FILM STUDIOS

That this House is dismayed at the news that Twickenham Film Studios is to be closed and potentially demolished; notes that the studio has recently hosted Oscar-nominated films War Horse, The Iron Lady and My Week with Marilyn; further notes that the studios, in a 99 year history, have produced Blade Runner, A Fish Called Wanda and The Italian Job amongst many others; believes that losing studio space at a time when the film industry is contributing enormous sums to the economy and attracting inward investment is short-sighted and damaging to the continued well-being of the UK film industry; further believes that for the film industry to remain successful it needs a variation in the size of studio space available and that with investment in technology Twickenham can be used as a facility for the games industry; and callson the Department for Culture, Olympics,Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to intervene and put the sale of Twickenham Film Studios on hold until the use of the studio facility can be discussed with stakeholders from the film, television and new media industries.