The Scottish Government has been asked to urgently clarify the future of a major film studio plan for Scotland.

Ministers are currently considering the planning report into the £140m Pentlands Studios, which private investors want to build in Straiton, Midlothian, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

Jackson Carlaw, of the Scottish Conservatives, has written to his counterpart Fiona Hyslop, the culture secretary, asking for "urgent clarification" on the future of the £55 million Pentland Studio.

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Ministers received a report from the reporter at the end of December and no decision over the plans have yet been announced.

In his letter, Mr Carlaw said he understood the Scottish Government received the planning reporter’s recommendation on December 20.

The site would include a water stage along with six sound stages as well as a hotel, accommodation and an energy centre.

The planning application to Midlothian Council was 'called in' by ministers last year after a decision on the site was delayed by Midlothian Council.

The Association of Film and Television Practitioners Scotland (AFPTS) has already repeatedly said the delays are badly affecting the industry.

Mr Carlaw said: "This will be a world-class facility that could see global productions come to Scotland to be filmed.

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"It will have training facilities, and spark an economic boost in culture as well.

"So quite why it’s taking the Scottish Government so long is an absolute mystery.

"Everything is in place ready to go, and the industry has been left hanging since June waiting for a decision.

"Now that decision’s apparently in, it needs to be revealed immediately.

"It would be utterly wasteful to wait any longer."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government has received the report and recommendations from the independent reporter on the proposal for a mixed-use development near Straiton which includes a film studio.

"Ministers will publish their decision in due course once the report has been fully considered."

Earlier this week the AFPTS, which represents 1700 producers, directors and technicians, said that Scotland needs to move quickly to establish a film studio.

In December the lobbying group said that the process of awarding planning permission to the plan was in danger of drifting into a "travesty".

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It said: "With a major multi stage studio in Pentlands stuck in planning for over a year and a Studio Delivery Group still to report after four years, the film industry in Scotland is no further forward."