§ 16. Mr. Adleyasked the Minister for Trade if he will now make a statement on the reorganisation of tourism services being studied by his Department.
§ Mr. SproatI hope to do so shortly.
§ Mr. AdleyWill my hon. Friend be introducing proposals for consultation, or for implementation? If the latter, may we have a debate? In the light of what he said to my hon. Friend the Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer) earlier, can he assure me that his discussions with the Welsh Office and the Scottish Office have taken on board the importance of keeping the Wales Tourist Board and the Scottish Tourist Board in line with the negotiations that he has been conducting?
§ Mr. SproatAs for whether the proposals that I announce will be for discussion or for implementation, some will be one thing and others another, but mainly they will be for implemetation. I should very much welcome a debate in the House. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House has been listening attentively to all that has been said. If a debate can be arranged, I shall be delighted. I am in close touch with my right hon. and hon. Friends at the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office and I am sure that they will support everything that I propose.
§ Mr. MaxtonFar from merely maintaining the present position of the Scottish Tourist Board, will the Minister consider giving it greater autonomy in Scotland and abroad so as to bring more tourists to Scotland, especially as he has cut and run to a seat that will depend very much on tourism in the future?
§ Mr. SproatKeeping the temperature of the debate as low as possible, following the advice of the right hon. and learned Member for Warley, West (Mr. Archer), I am acutely aware of the wish of the Scottish Tourist Board to have more powers to promote its area. That desire is not confined to Scotland, but extends to Wales and to London. I hope to announce my conclusions on all these matters before too long.