Mr. E. P. Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total floor-space, in footage, of the film studios in Great Britain; what percentage of this was requisitioned and occupied by His 1026W Majesty's Government during the war; how much has since been released; and how much of the original footage he estimates will be in the free possession of the studios by 31st March, 1946.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe total floor space of the film studios in Great Britain has never been officially recorded, but the requisitioned proportion of the available prewar stage space is estimated to have been roughly one-half. About 40 per cent, of this requisitioned space has now been cleared and restored to the studio owners. By the end of March, I expect that over 98 per cent, of this space will have been restored to the industry as well as much the greater part of the Amalgamated Studios at Elstree, which were never used for film production before the war and had been let on long lease to the Ministry of Works for other purposes.