HC Deb 22 October 1973 vol 861 c671
6. Mr. Terry Davis

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now reconsider his decision to restrict grants for tourist projects to the development areas.

Mr. Chataway

No, Sir. The limited funds at present available ought to be devoted to tourist projects in the development areas.

Mr. Davis

Is the aim to foster tourism or help development areas? Why can none of this money be made available to Herefordshire and Worcestershire? Is it true that the English Tourist Board has been receiving fewer applications for grants and loans than it had expected, and has therefore had to undertake a publicity campaign to attract more applications in development areas?

Mr. Chataway

The aim is to help both the development areas and tourism. It is true that twice as much money is available to the tourist board for this purpose in the current year, and it has been advertising the services that it has to offer.