HC Deb 10 January 1977 vol 923 cc1029-30
6. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to announce the appointment of the next Chairman of the British Tourist Authority.

Mr. Meacher

Before Sir Alexander Glen's present term of office expires.

Mr. Adley

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that most people think that Sir Alexander has been an outstandingly successful Chairman of the BTA? Many people hope that the Government will appoint to this important job a man of equally high calibre. Can the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will not do a Cable and Wireless on the tourist industry and appoint a party hack to this job rather than a man with some experience in the relevant industry?

Mr. Meacher

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his generous comment about Sir Alexander Glen, which I entirely support and endorse. As to his snide comment about the person whom the Government will appoint to this position, I can assure the hon. Member that we shall engage in the normal consultations which take place and that we shall appoint someone who is of equally high calibre and who, I am sure, will perform well the considerable and difficult duties of the BTA under its new constitution.

Mr. Lipton

Would it not be a good idea to appoint the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) to this job? We would get much more work done in the House if we got rid of him.

Mr. Meacher

The hon. Gentleman has ruled himself out of consideration by his comment about the appointment of a party hack.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, as one who was instrumental in reappointing Sir Alexander, I pay tribute to the enthusiasm that he and his team have applied to their task? On the question of the appointment of another chairman, has not the time come to have a new look at the whole structure of the tourist industry, and possibly the Government's responsibility for it, with a view to giving to this vital sector of the economy the priority that it enjoys in other countries?

Mr. Meacher

The industry already has considerable priority, particularly in view of the enormous foreign exchange earnings which it wins—a net surplus probably well in excess of the £¼ billion which it earned last year. We are changing the constitution of the BTA by means of the devolution Bill, but I shall take into account any recommendations which the hon. Gentleman makes about structural changes.