Tourist Board (Hansard, 13 April 1967)

§ 1. Mr. Ednyfed Hudson Davies
asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the consultations which he has undertaken in connection with the tourist industry in Wales and the Wales Tourist Board have now been completed; and whether he will now make a statement.

§ 14. Mr. Gower
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he will take to increase the financial resources available to the Wales Tourist Board.

§ The Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Cledwyn Hughes)
I am glad to be able to inform the House that arrangements have been made for a substantial strengthening of the Wales Tourist Board so as to enable it, in co-operation with the British Travel Association, to play an even more effective part than in the past in developing the important holiday potential of Wales.
Increased Government support is to be given to enable the present scale of operations of the Board, based on a revenue of about £54,000 a year, to be increased to correspond to a revenue of about £80,000 a year, and the Board will now strengthen its staff and plan ahead on this basis.

§ Mr. Davies
Is the Secretary of State aware that he will be congratulated by everyone connected with the Welsh tourist industry for this very substantial increase in the Board's income? Will he give an assurance that this will be continued in future years, if not increased, so that the Board may embark on longer-term re-organisation of its administration, increases of staff and the continuation of longer-term research? Will he—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We have a lot of Questions on the Order Paper. Questions must be brief.

§ Mr. Davies
Will my right hon. Friend indicate whether this will affect local authority contributions to the Board?

§ Mr. Hughes
We shall, of course, be looking at the financial position from year to year. I am glad that my hon. Friend welcomes this substantial step forward. On the question of the local authority expenditure, this grant is to supplement local authority finance. Continued support from local authorities in Wales to the Tourist Board is essential.