§ 11. Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what responses she has received to her strategy document "Success through Partnership: A Strategy for Tourism". [16708]
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley"Success through Partnership: A Strategy for Tourism", published on 5 February, has been extremely well received. It has received much positive press coverage and we have had many letters welcoming its overall comprehensive nature, its key targets and its specific points for action. Work on the action plan has already begun, both within my Department and elsewhere.
§ Mr. CoombsCan my right hon. Friend confirm that 1995 was a record year for British tourism and that 1996 is likely to exceed that record when the figures are finally available? Does she agree that the proceeds 615 of the national lottery are making possible a massive increase in our tourism infrastructure, whether it is the new railway heritage museum in Swindon in my constituency or the new Tate gallery of modern art in the Bankside power station in London? In the context of the development of the south bank, can my right hon. Friend tell the House when we are likely to get a positive decision on the redevelopment of the south bank centre itself?
§ Mrs. BottomleyI can confirm my hon. Friend's comments. We have reversed a 10-year decline in our world tourism share. In 1995, earnings from overseas tourism grew by 9 per cent. in France and by 15 per cent. in Spain and Italy. In the United Kingdom, there was 26 per cent. growth, with earnings now amounting to more than £22.5 billion. That is a formidable achievement and I anticipate that next year will be even better.
I also commend my hon. Friend's comments about investment in many heritage, arts and culture-related projects, such as those in Swindon in his constituency. We want to boost domestic tourism further. The south bank project is another major renaissance of the Thames initiative which will be of lasting value and which will lead up to the millennium year, when we shall see opportunities for our arts, our heritage and our cultural life as never before. Those behind the south bank project, like other applicants, must be sure that they have completed the necessary processes, paperwork and business plan before their applications can be properly considered.
Dr. John CunninghamThe right hon. Lady forgot to mention that the Government's policy document on tourism had to be withdrawn because it was full of spelling mistakes. It turned out that those who wrote it could not even spell "Prime Minister".
As there has been considerable reference to lottery funding, will the right hon. Lady explain why about 90 per cent. of lottery grants remain in the bank unspent? Is it not because the matching funding conditions are too onerous even for some of our major national institutions? Does that not mean that, in areas of less affluence, many people are being excluded altogether from successful applications because they have no chance of meeting the matching funding requirements?
§ Mrs. BottomleyThe Labour party is a great believer in preaching the need for homework to everybody. I suggest that the right hon. Gentleman does his own homework a little better. So far, partnership funding has been running at about £1.41 for every £1 necessary; in other words, partnership funding has exceeded expectations. In areas where difficulties may emerge, there is the flexibility for all the lottery distributors to vary the funding required. The Sports Council, for example, will provide 90 per cent. of funding, if necessary; the arts and heritage fund also has flexibility. If money is unspent so far, it accrues interest which then goes to the good cause.
I will investigate any matters concerned with the tourism strategy. I suspect, however, that the right hon. Gentleman's comments are just another fanciful fairy story invented by the Labour party.