HC Deb 03 December 1985 vol 88 cc137-8
1. Mr. Robert Banks

asked the Paymaster General what has been the trend in employment opportunities in the tourist industry in the past five years.

The Paymaster General (Mr. Kenneth Clarke)

In the five years to June 1985 the number of employees in employment in the hotel, catering and leisure sectors, which are most directly dependent on tourists' spending, rose by 66,000 or about 6 per cent. In addition, self-employment has grown, for example by about 22,000 in the hotel and catering industries between 1981 and 1984. However, it is difficult to define tourist industries precisely, and various studies have suggested that 1 million to 1.5 million jobs are supported directly or indirectly by tourist spending.

Mr. Banks

I am grateful to my right hon. and learned Friend for his encouraging reply. Will he lose no opportunity to scotch the ridiculous suggestion that jobs in those industries are not every bit as good as those in other industries and that they are in some ways servile? Will he give publicity to the fact that more than 90 per cent. of people who complete YTS courses get jobs at the end of them, and that there are vacancies in this area?

Mr. Clarke

I am happy to agree with my hon. Friend on both points. Certainly there are serious jobs to be had in the industries most directly affected, and in many sectors such as retailing and public transport, which also benefit from increased tourist spending and activity. I also confirm that, because that is one of the fastest growing areas of new employment in the economy, there is a high success rate for those who leave training schemes directed at it.

Mr. Dalyell

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that one of the best ways to help the tourist industry is to make money available to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England and to the Historic Buildings Councils for Wales and for Scotland because they employ many people in skilled crafts, and help tourism? Does the Minister realise that the Scottish Historic Buildings Council is skint? Will he discuss with his ministerial colleagues what should be done about that?

Mr. Clarke

I believe that the hon. Gentleman is the inhabitant of a historic Scottish building and undoubtedly has a direct interest in the question. I shall refer the main point of it to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, who is responsible. The Government must get the balance right between spending on the parts of the heritage that help to attract visitors and spending on the services that provide new employment.

Mr. Lawrence

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that this welcome trend would be much faster accelerated if we introduced flexible licensing hours? Will he assure the House that in the Cabinet he will urge the implementation as quickly as possible of that desirable change?

Mr. Clarke

My views are declared because many years ago my hon. and learned Friend supported my private member's Bill which sought to achieve that end. Anybody responsible for tourism and leisure-based industries knows that there is great pressure for reform from everybody interested in employment in that area. The Government, especially my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, have the matter under urgent review.

Mr. Kennedy

Is the Paymaster General aware that the highlands and islands of Scotland welcome the emphasis that the Government are rightly giving to employment creation in tourism? Towards that end, will he make it clear in principle that, if Ross and Cromarty district council inquired about the potential for a mountain railway and ski development facility near Ben Wyvis at Strathpeffer in my constituency, he, as Minister responsible for employment, would take a constrictive and legitimate interest in the proposals?

Mr. Clarke

I shall take a proper interest in both projects if they are forthcoming, and I should probably refer them to the Scottish Tourist Board, which is responsible in the first instance for looking at the disbursement of funds in that area.