HC Deb 19 March 1959 vol 602 cc611-2
16. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the President of the Board of Trade what special steps he is taking to encourage the dollar tourist trade in Great Britain.

Mr. J. Rodgers

As the Estimates which my hon. and learned Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury will shortly be presenting to the House will show, it is proposed to increase the maximum level of the annual grant-in-aid to the British Travel and Holidays Association by a quarter-of-a-million pounds next year, from £800,000 to £1,050,000 a year. The major part of this increase will be spent on publicity in North America, to which the Association already devotes much attention.

Mr. K. Robinson

Has the Parliamentary Secretary seen a story in the Sunday newspapers headed: Dollar Tourists Get Tea With M.P.s which tells of a British travel agency advertising tea on the Terrace with Members of Parliament as an inducement for the £410 tour of Europe? Will he do whatever he can to discourage this commercial exploitation of the privilege that hon. Members have to entertain their friends and constituents?

Mr. Rodgers

I did not see the article, but I have heard about it. I deplore equally with the hon. Member the selling of the facilities of this House for these purposes.