HC Deb 20 May 1975 vol 892 cc1208-9
Q1. Mr. Tim Renton

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech by the Secretary of State for Trade on tourism on 30th April represents Government policy.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 15th May.

Mr. Renton

Does the Prime Minister agree with the Secretary of State's comment in that speech that the Government should not expect to have to inject funds indefinitely into particular activities? What limit will he therefore put on the amount of public funds being sunk into unprofitable activities? What encouragement will he give to successful industries, such as insurance, which simply wish the Government to get off their backs?

The Prime Minister

My right hon. Friend was speaking within the context of tourism. He was speaking about the need to channel money for encouraging tourism to areas which were in need of additional tourism and which had many natural attractions, especialy the assisted areas and areas of high unemployment. As regards insurance, the hon. Gentleman will have seen that we have introduced a valuable scheme to supplement the insurance undertaken by individuals within the tourist trade.