§ 27. Mr. Hoyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of his decision not to proceed with the establishment of a Scottish Tourist Fund, he will reconsider his decision with regard to the special grant for Highland tourism.
§ Mr. G. CampbellNo, Sir. As my right hon. Friend indicated to the hon. Member in reply to a supplementary question on 29th January last, the 1373 special grant was for a specific experimental purpose, which is now practically complete.
§ Mr. HoyBut the right hon. Gentleman had proposals to create a tourist fund. He has thrown this overboard, and there is nothing to put in its place. It is in those circumstances that I am asking the hon. Gentleman to ask his right hon. Friend at least to continue to provide this small sum of £15,000 for a further three or four years, which will help considerably in the Highland areas.
§ Mr. CampbellAs regards a tourist fund, my right hon. Friend is prepared to consider any proposal which is generally acceptable to those engaged in the tourist industry. As regards the grant which is to be continued for only another year, the tourist industry in Scotland already receives assistance from the Government in other ways, for example, the £400,000 which it is estimated is used by the British Travel and Holidays Association on behalf of Scotland. The particular experiments for which the comparatively small sum of £15,000 was intended are now almost at an end.