HC Deb 06 May 1958 vol 587 cc1012-3
16. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the meagre contributions of some local authorities to the Scottish Tourist Board; and whether he will help to extend its work by encouraging reasonable contributions from each council.

Mr. N. Macpherson

My noble Friend the Minister of State drew attention to this matter in his address to the Tourist Association of Scotland on 25th April. My right hon. Friend trusts that local authorities will note what my noble Friend said.

Mr. Woodburn

I welcome the noble Lord's contribution in this matter, but is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Scottish Tourist Board is working on a mere bagatelle compared with, let us say, the Isle of Man, which spends on advertising the Isle of Man about six times what the Scottish Tourist Board has to spend? Should not a country which has some of the most beautiful tourist facilities in the world spend some money, and would it not be a good investment to make the tourist attractions of Scotland better known? Will the hon. Gentleman try to get some additional help for the Tourist Board in this good work?

Mr. Macpherson

I am sure that we are extremely grateful for the right hon. Gentleman's strong support in encouraging local authorities to make more generous contributions to the Scottish Tourist Board.

17. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the wide range of services given to Scotland by the Scottish Tourist Board; and whether he will enable this work to be extended by additional grants for their work directly or indirectly from public funds.

Mr. N. Macpherson

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend is very well aware of the valuable services given to Scotland by the Scottish Tourist Board. The Board receives payments from the British Travel and Holiday Association for overseas publicity work which it undertakes for the Association, but it is an independent body and has never sought direct financial assistance from the Government.

Mr. Woodburn

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the reason that there is an independent body is that, in publicity abroad, it would probably be tied down to the Goschen formula, which, in this case, is not acceptable? Will he agree that Scotland has quite special offerings to make in the tourist trade, and that these things ought to be done in a friendly competitive spirit between Scotland and England?

Further, is he aware that the Travel Association is making no grants at all towards film publicity for the beauties of Scotland, and that that would be one of the best ways to make Scotland attractive abroad? Is he aware also that we are indebted to private enterprise in this connection for producing some very beautiful films of Scotland, but that a great deal more ought to be done, especially for the Tourist Board?

Mr. Macpherson

I should like to associate my right hon. Friend with what the right hon. Gentleman has said about the films produced. Again, however, I think that it would be most unwise to attempt to duplicate the network which the Board of Trade has abroad by special Scottish representation.