CLOSURE OF ELSTREE FILM STUDIOS

That this House regrets the closure of Elstree Film Studios, formerly a major centre of British film production including the first British sound film, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and recently a series of major features directed by Stephen Spielberg who admired the compact but comprehensive facilities and the high quality of British technicians; expresses deep concern that this studio closure will further erode employment of such technicians and the maintenance of their skils; bitterly condemns the unscrupulous and unprincipled capitalist concerns involved in the break up and dismemberment of the site, including the sale of a major British film archive dating back to 1895; and expresses admiration for studio managers, workers, directors, artistes and others who produced so many high quality films and who fought against the greed and incompetence which brought closure ironically at a time of high bookings for British film studios.