§ 2.46 p.m.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement that he is very much against taking holidays abroad because they cost too much foreign exchange represents official Government policy; and, if so, whether they will influence the state-owned aircraft corporations to stop their advertising campaign urging people in this country to go abroad.]
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, it is the Government's aim to correct the deficit on the country's balance of payments as soon as possible. Therefore, any voluntary action by residents of this country to limit expenditure of foreign exchange on travel helps to this end. But so far as people wish to travel, the Government would wish the British air 7 corporations to have a proper share of that traffic.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, while I am grateful to the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask him this question: would he, in the light of the Chancellor's statement, tell us, "Yes" or "No", whether it is against the national interest to take holidays abroad this year; and will Her Majesty's Government realize that upon the answer depends the summer plans of the many patriotic persons who, if asked to stay at home, will do so, as happened in 1931 when Britain went off the gold standard? Can we have these doubts resolved?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Earl has asked me to answer "Yes" or "No", but the noble Earl must know that the question that he has put cannot be answered in quite such clear terms.
§ LORD CARRINGTONWhy not?
§ LORD SHEPHERDAs I said in my original Answer, we wish to deal with the balance of payments, and any saving on overseas travel will help to that end; but it is recognized that holidays are a two-way traffic, in the sense that we receive very many welcome visitors here, and it would be quite contrary to a number of exchange control Acts for us to take any administrative action in this case. But, as was made quite clear in the Chancellor's statement at the Boat Show, there are a number of opportunities that many of us have not yet explored which we should enjoy if we did stay at home—and the noble Earl would find that particularly so if he were to go to the Norfolk Broads.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, I wonder if I might ask the noble Lord whether he considers that when the Home Secretary opened the new headquarters of a travel agency specializing in overseas travel he was voluntarily acting to restrict travel overseas?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I think I should need notice of that question.
§ THE EARL OF SWINTONMy Lords, perhaps the noble Lord could answer this one, which is simpler. For which of these contradictory policies is the First Secretary responsible?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, as one who earns his living in the tourist industry, may I ask the noble Lord this question: if he wishes to drive me into the bankruptcy court, why do the Government so repeatedly tell me how important I am to the national economy?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I would be the last to drive the noble Lord into the bankruptcy court, and I am quite sure it will not be the case.
§ BARONESS HORSBRUGHMy Lords, is it not the case that more foreign currency comes into this country by overseas visitors than goes from this country by British nationals going abroad?
§ LORD SHEPHERDThat is quite right.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer intends to implement in a personal way the suggestion he has made to others—that is to say, by acquiring a motor cruiser with a view to sailing round the coast of this country? Secondly, may I ask him whether the Government have taken any action to encourage the people of this country to spend their holidays in certain countries within the sterling area?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am not aware yet of where my right honorable friend will be spending his holidays; but I believe in the past it has always been at home. Perhaps I may say to the noble Lord that before the right honorable gentleman made this statement, I myself had made plans to have a boat on the Norfolk Broads. From past experience I can say it is first-class and something that I would recommend to all Members of your Lordships' House.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, could the noble Lord say how much the State-owned aircraft corporations are spending on an advertising campaign to induce people to disregard the advice of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I have no details before me of the expenditure of the British air companies on travel advertisements; but the noble Viscount will recognize that, if this travel is taking place, there is an advantage to our balance of payments if British passengers 9 fly in British aircraft and not in those of overseas air companies.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, is the Minister aware that there are about 50 million people in this country who have no desire whatsoever for Government guidance on this or any other subject?
§ LORD STRANGEMy Lords, could the noble Lord tell me whether the Isle of Man is counted as "abroad"?
§ LORD SHEPHERDPerhaps the noble Lord can give us his advice on another occasion.
§ LORD COLERAINEMy Lords, would it be out of order to suggest that the Chancellor of the Exchequer may have more leisure for his holidays this summer than he had last?
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, may I ask this question seriously? Can it ever be right for a Government, any Government, to speak with two voices, one directly contradicting the other?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I do not see any contradiction in this at all. My right honorable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer was speaking at the Boat Show. He no doubt took into account the great attractions of a boating holiday and the consequent saving on foreign exchange. I can see no contradiction in this at all.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, as the noble Lord's right honorable friend was at the Boat Show, was he feeling a bit rocky at the time?