British MP fears Pinewood's foreign expansion may damage national interests

Pinewood Studios, home of the British film industry and where the 007 films starring Daniel Craig are made, could be moving abroad after it set up operations in Malaysia and Toronto, claims the Daily Express

Fears of another British institution falling under the spell of foreign interests increased after Cadbury’s was bought by US food giant Kraft. Now Labour MP Gisela Stuart is asking Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to refer the expansion of Pinewood Shepperton to the Competition Commission to see if the plans will damage Britain’s long-term national interests.

A local council last year rejected Pinewood’s application to build film sets on greenbelt land near the main studios at Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.

The company later signed a deal with the Malaysian government to develop a massive studio complex in Iskandar, near Singapore. Called Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios, the complex will provide more than 100,000 square feet of film sets and create 8,000 jobs. Building is due to finish by 2012.

Mrs Stuart says the expansion is “very disturbing”, particularly as she was hoping Pinewood would consider building on the virtually derelict Longbridge site near Birmingham.

She also wants Lord Mandelson to look into the company’s expansion in Canada. Under a five-year deal newly-built studios were renamed Pinewood Toronto Studios, with Pinewood earning fees based on the revenue performance of the studios.

Mrs Stuart, who will meet a representative of the Pinewood board this Wednesday to discuss her fears, said: “After what happened to Cadbury’s we must act to protect British companies and keep them in Britain.”

Pinewood corporate director Andrew Smith insisted there are no plans to move out of Britain. He said: “Film-making in the UK remains highly attractive.”

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