§ 6. Lieut.-Colonel MOOREasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the importance of the tourist industry to Scotland, he will call the at- 2346 tention of the different local authorities to the fact that none of them, up to the present, have taken advantage of the power conferred upon them to levy a halfpenny rate for the purpose of advertising their attractions?
§ Sir G. COLLINSTown councils are empowered to contribute annually a sum not exceeding in all the produce of a halfpenny rate to organisations approved under the Local Authorities (Publicity) Act, 1931. The Scottish Travel Association was so approved in 1931, and the approval was intimated to all town councils. I understand that a number of local authorities have made contributions for this purpose, and I should be glad to see a more general use of their powers for the purpose of developing the Scottish tourist traffic to the fullest extent.