§ 12. Mr. Matthewsasked the Secretary for Technical Co-operation whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for bringing sponsored visitors to this country; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. CarrYes, Sir. The estimates provision for visitors sponsored by the British Council and the Central Office of Information has been increased this year to about £1.3 million compared with about £1 million last year. This should enable them to sponsor considerably more visitors than last year when the total was over 6,300. Other Departments also arrange tours for visitors with particular interests in their fields.
§ Mr. MatthewsI welcome this information. Can my right hon. Friend do still more to encourage these visitors to get around the industrial areas so that they may see for themselves what Britain has to offer the world by way of "know-how"?
§ Mr. CarrYes, indeed. Most visitors wish to spend a certain amount of time in London, but we are encouraging more and more of them—and more and more are finding it profitable and enjoyable—to get well away from London as well.