§ 9. Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he has for Britons holidaying abroad this summer.
§ Mr. GoodladThe most important messages are: obtain travel insurance, do not get involved with drugs, and respect and observe local customs. Anyone who needs advice about particular destinations should contact the Foreign Office travel advice unit on 071-270 4129.
§ Mr. ThurnhamWill my right hon. Friend take steps to publicise that useful helpline service more widely so that travellers know in advance of the help available to them if they run into any of those problems?
§ Mr. GoodladTravel advice notices are disseminated swiftly through the travel industry—and thus to a large part of the public—by electronic information systems. Notices may be read on the BBC's Ceefax service. Our aim is to give prompt and accurate advice on the safety of British nationals abroad and we respond promptly to inquiries from the public on the number that I have given.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursWill the Minister advise holidaymakers, wherever they are and whoever they are, to tell their hosts that we in Workington have an empty 500,000 sq ft factory and want a tenant or owner from overseas to put in some substantial industrial plant? We need the business and we are open to offers.
§ Mr. GoodladI am sure that travellers everywhere will hear the hon. Gentleman's message; perhaps he would like to publicise his own telephone number.