HC Deb 12 December 1977 vol 941 cc18-9
20. Mr. Crawford

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are his Department's estimates of the contribution made by overseas visitors to Scotland to the United Kingdom balance of payments.

Mr. Meacher

I regret that estimates of this sort are not available. The Scottish Tourist Board has estimated that in 1976 expenditure by overseas visitors in Scotland amounted to £115 million.

Mr. Crawford

Does the Minister agree that it is high time that he agreed with the Scottish Tourist Board Chief Executive, Philippe Taylor, to the effect that that board should be allowed to advertise the tourist potential of Scotland overseas? Does he not think it is a disgrace that the STB should be forbidden by statute from advertising overseas the tourist interests of the very country that it is supposed to represent?

Mr. Meacher

Under the provisions of the Scotland Bill now before the House, a Scottish Administration would be able to make funds available to the British Tourist Authority to promote overseas visitors going to Scotland. I should have thought that that met the hon. Gentleman's point.

Mr. Canavan

As many visitors to Scotland come from England and Wales, does my hon. Friend agree that it would damage the Scottish economy if such people had to have a passport to visit a separate Scottish State, particularly if the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. Crawford) were in charge of a special Scottish Treasury?

Mr. Meacher

Certainly.