HC Deb 24 April 1990 vol 171 cc150-1
12. Mr. Amos

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will visit the Hexham constituency to assess the tourist infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to visit Hexham. However, my noble Friend Lord Strathclyde has recently met representatives of the tourism industry in the north-east and hopes to pay further visits to that region soon.

Mr. Amos

I am sure that my hon. Friend will enjoy his visit to what is generally regarded as the most beautiful constituency in the country, but will he have discussions with his colleague in the Department of Transport to ensure better access to sites such as Hadrian's wall and Langley castle by improving signposting to those areas and by dualling the A69 west of Hexham? Will he also ensure greater private sector involvement with the Northumbrian tourist board?

Mr. Nicholls

Coming from a tourist area myself, I share my hon. Friend's concerns about signposting. He will know, I think, that the English tourist board has asked the regional tourist boards to consider again the whole issue of signposting for tourist purposes. I am sure that that will reassure my hon. Friend.

I understand that there are no present plans to dual the A69, although other improvements are being made to it, but that is a matter which my hon. Friend will want to take up with the Department of Transport.

As for funding, I, like my hon. Friend, pay tribute to the work done in Northumbria. But I fully accept that in an industry in which self-employment is highly represented, the more private sector money that can be injected, the better.