HC Deb 31 July 1958 vol 592 cc1584-6
53. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the President of the Board of Trade what conditions he attaches to the grant in aid of the British Holidays and Travel Association; and whether he will exercise supervision over the inclusion of hotels in their list of hotels officially recommended to tourists from abroad.

Sir D. Eccles

As the conditions attaching to the grant-in-aid are lengthy, I will, with permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT. To the second part of the Question, the answer is "No, Sir". The compilation of a hotel guide demands knowledge and experience which a Government Department does not possess.

Mr. Robinson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this official list includes the Goring Hotel, Victoria, which refused admission to three coloured American ladies despite the fact that they had booked their rooms many months in advance? As the Minister responsible for tourism, does he not feel that he should take some steps to prevent the colour bar spreading to London hotels or, at any rate, express his personal detestation of the practice?

Sir D. Eccles

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for giving me the opportunity to say that I deplore very much discrimination on grounds of colour.

Following is the information:

Conditions Attaching to Grant in Aid to the Association by the Board of Trade under Class VI, Vote 2

  1. 1. The Director General is the officer nominated by the Association to be responsible for those duties which in a Government Department would be the responsibility of the Accounting Officer. He will be responsible for seeing that the following conditions are observed, and he will be associated with the Accounting Officer of the Board of Trade on matters relative to the expenditure of the Association from the Grant in Aid arising before the Public Accounts Committee.
  2. 2. For the purpose of day-to-day financial administration, the Director General will control the expenditure of the Association, and, either personally or through the Administrative Officer of the Association, will be the link 1585 between the Association and the Finance Division of the Board of Trade in regulating the financial aspects of the Association's activities.
  3. 3. Details of the Association's programme of activities for the following financial year, together with estimates of income and expenditure, should be submitted for approval by the Board of Trade by 1st November in each year. The Association will at the same time submit to the Board of Trade revised estimates for the current financial year showing the balance expected to be in hand at 31st March.
  4. 4. On the revenue side, the estimates should include any receipts expected from sales of publications, contributions from outside sources, etc.
  5. 5. On the expenditure side, the estimates should show the division between different subheads representing the main separate objects of the Association's expenditure and also between items within certain subheads, as shown in the list below. The headings in the list will be revised from time to time to provide for any new services or other changes as appropriate.
  6. 6. The estimates should show the division of the total provision required betwen (a) services already in operation in the current year, and (b) new services expected to be undertaken in the ensuing year.
  7. 7. Issues to the Association from the Grant in Aid will be regulated by the Board of Trade according to the Association's cash requirements and the need for a reasonable working balance at the end of the financial year.
  8. 8. Savings on any one of the subheads of the Association's estimates may not be applied towards excesses on other subheads without the prior approval of the Board of Trade.
  9. 9. Prior approval by the Board of Trade is also necessary at any time for:—
    1. (a) expenditure on a new service not falling within an existing subhead;
    2. (b) any expansion of the Association's work which would involve a considerable addition to expenditure in future years;
    3. (c) any proposal involving a point of financial principle;
    4. (d) any long-term commitments.
  10. 10. With regard to expenditure on staff, Civil Service standards of remuneration and conditions of service should broadly be observed, and, in the case of higher appointments (attracting salaries of more than £1,500 a year) under the Association, the Board of Trade will expect their prior sanction to be sought to the complements and scales of remuneration.
  11. 11. Any superannuation scheme which the Association might wish to establish for its employees, or any proposed amendment to an existing scheme, should be submitted to the Board of Trade for prior approval.
  12. 12. The Association shall transmit to the Board of Trade a statement of their accounts for the financial year last completed, in such form as the Board may direct, as soon as their accounts for the year have been audited, 1586 together with a copy of any report made by the auditors on the accounts. The Association shall also transmit to the Board, as soon as may be after the end of the financial year, an account of the receipts and payments of the Association during that year, and showing against each item the corresponding provision made in the Association's estimates for the year.
  13. 13. The "write off" of losses (as defined in letters exchanged between the Board of Trade and the Association), and the making of ex gratia and compensation payments shall require the prior approval of the Board of Trade.

LIST

BRITISEI TRAVEL AND HOLIDAYS ASSOCIATION

Arrangement by Subheads of Estimated Expenditure and Receipts

EXPENDITURE

Subhead

  1. A. Wages, Salaries and Pensions
  2. B. Office Expenses
    1. (1) Accommodation Charges
    2. (2) Other Office Expenses
  3. C. Travelling Expenses
    1. (1) Home
    2. (2) Overseas
  4. D. Entertaining
  5. E. Capital Expenditure
  6. F. Tourist and Holiday Development
  7. G. Film Production
  8. H. General Publicity
    1. (1) Literature—General
    2. (2) "Coming Events"
    3. (3) Distribution
    4. (4) World Press Publicity
    5. (5) Co-operative Publicity Promotion Schemes
  9. I. Exhibitions and Displays Overseas
  10. J. Expenditure in U.S.A.
    1. (1) Press Advertising
    2. (2) Public Relations
    3. (3) Offices
  11. K. European Travel Commission—U.S. Publicity Campaign
  12. L. Expenditure in Canada
    1. (1) Press Advertising and Public Relations
    2. (2) Office
  13. M. Expenditure in Western Europe
    1. (1) Advertising and Public Relations
    2. (2) Offices

N. Expenditure in Latin America Advertising and Public Relations O. Expenditure in South Africa Advertising and Public Relations P. Expenditure in Australia and New Zealand Advertising and Public Relations

RECEIPTS

Non-Government Revenue

  1. (1) Subscriptions and Donations
  2. (2) Miscellaneous Receipts.