§ 9. Sir John Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what effect the Budget will have on the prosperity and growth of the Scottish tourist industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MillanThe Budget contained no measures relating specifically to tourism. I am confident that the Scottish tourist industry will continue to flourish.
§ Sir J. GilmourDoes the Minister agree that, apart from the increases in nationalised industry prices, the specific increases in insurance stamps, the 10 per cent. VAT on petrol and increased company taxation will all militate against the growth of the tourist industry, making it more difficult for that industry to survive?
§ Mr. MillanI have received no representations from the industry, and none of those points was put to me by the Tourist Board last Friday. The board seeemed very optimistic about the future.
§ Mr. MacArthurWill the Minister take a less complacent attitude to the problem? The Budget bears heavily on the tourist industry, as it does on industry generally in Scotland. Will the Government approach this matter seriously and make some attempt to tell the House how much the Budget will cost Scottish industry?
§ Mr. MillanFar from being complacent about the situation, and in spite of the appalling economic inheritance left to us by the Conservatives, I was delighted to be able to announce to the Tourist Board on Friday that we were increasing its assistance in the current year by £175,000.