HL Deb 12 December 1972 vol 337 cc554-7

6.46 p.m.

LORD WINDLESHAM rose to move, That the Draft Development of Tourist Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, laid before the House on November 16, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg to move the second Order standing in my name on the Order Paper. As its title implies, this Order is designed to encourage the development of the tourist industry in Northern Ireland. Recent events have, not surprisingly, had a severe impact on tourism in the Province, which up to 1969 was increasing at such a rate that it had become an. important source of revenue. This revenue, brought in by visitors, amounted in 1968 to over £28 million.

The Order provides for making financial assistance available to hotels, guest houses and boarding houses in Northern Ireland. I should make it clear that it docs not involve any form of compensation for loss of business. Its main provision is to continue, and in some cases expand, the system of capital grants for the construction, extension, modernisation or improvement of premises. This is a good time to try to improve the basic facilities for tourism, so that when the picture brightens the standard of accommodation, and therefore the attractiveness of Northern Ireland to the tourist, will be higher than it was before.

An earlier Act of the Stormont Parliament, the Development of Tourist Traffic (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 1963, provided for the Ministry of Commerce to pay grants of up to 25 per cent, towards the construction of new, or the improvement of existing, hotels, guest houses and boarding houses in appropriate circumstances. Subsequent amendments extended the period during which applications for such grants could be made up until October 4, 1971, and also increased the rate of grant to 33⅓ per cent.

This was originally intended as a special measure at a time of considerable growth in tourism, to expand the extent and the quality of the accommodation available. But in view of the exceptional circumstances which have applied since 1969 this measure, in Article 3, provides for a flexible scheme of grant intended to operate retrospectively to October 4, 1971, which was the final date for receipt of applications under the original scheme as extended. This means that there will in practice be continuity of financial assistance to the hotel industry in Northern Ireland. As under the original scheme, grant will not be available towards work in respect of nonresidential establishments or of establishments which are not registered with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Financial assistance under the scheme must be related to works of construction, extension, modernisation or improvement of hotels, guest houses and boarding houses. Rates of grant vary between 20 per cent, and 35 per cent, according to the situation of the hotel development. The Draft Order also extends the functions of the Ministry of Commerce, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and local authorities as far as tourism is concerned, and enables grants to be made to local authorities for tourist and amenity purposes.

With the reorganisation of local government in Northern Ireland, a change in the existing system is necessary. The Macrory Report on Local Government Reorganisation recommended that tourism should be treated as a regional function. Article 5 of the Draft Order therefore enables the Ministry of Commerce to provide tourist amenities and services and acquire land by agreement or compulsorily for such purposes. This power would allow central Government to supplement the efforts of local authorities and, at the same time, foster local interest and involvement by consulting with local interests and representative tourist bodies before initiating such schemes. Once tourist amenities have been completed by the Ministry of Commerce, it is likely that they will then pass into the hands of the appropriate local authorities to be operated, managed and maintained. Article 6 of the Draft Order accordingly provides for the transfer by the Ministry of Commerce of tourist amenities which it has provided, to the appropriate local authorities.

I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the continuing efforts of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in the most difficult circumstances. In the present troubled conditions the Tourist Board has become increasingly aware of the value of encouraging Northern Ireland residents to holiday and spend money in their own country. Article 4 of this draft Order reflects the need to adopt this new approach by extending the duties of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board to include the general duty to encourage Northern Ireland residents to holiday in Northern Ireland and to undertake and incur expenditure on publicity, advertising or other activities. I beg to move."

Moved, That the Draft Development of Tourist Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1972, laid before the House on November 16 be approved.—(Lord Windlesham.)

LORD GARNSWORTHY

My Lords, may I begin by expressing thanks to the noble Lord, Lord Windlesham, for the great care he has shown in explaining this Order? I should have thanked him in connection with the previous Order and for the kindly way he explained that—for his kindly, clear, explicit and very helpful explanation—and the same applies to the one we are now considering. My comments will be very brief. We give a warm welcome to the general intention of this Order. We feel, as I am sure the noble Lord feels, that the greatest help the tourist traffic in Northern Ireland could possibly receive would be a speedy return to a lasting peace.

VISCOUNT AMORY

My Lords, my noble friend is truly appearing before us this evening as a variety artist, considering the variety of Orders he is introducing. I have only one comment to make. I think I am right—my noble friend will correct me if I am wrong—in saying that before the troubles that we all so much deplore broke out the Northern Ireland tourist trade was going extremely well. This therefore seems the right moment at which to proceed with these improvements, because we all believe in our hearts that happier days will return to Northern Ireland and we wish to do everything we can to show our friends in Northern Ireland that this is our belief. I own that I have not studied this Order in detail. Nevertheless, this seems to me to be the right moment at which to proceed with the kind of improvements that are indicated by this Order.

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, may I thank both noble Lords for their comments. As my noble friend Lord Amory said, the growth in the development of the tourist trade in Northern Ireland before 1969 was most encouraging. This is an opportunity—and I am glad to hear that in his judgment he regards this as such an opportunity—to make a gesture of confidence for the future. It takes some time to build extensions to hotels and much planning must be done before a new hotel is built. A period of time inevitably elapses in these cases and it seems right to make additional grants available now, so that when things improve better facilities will be available. Then people will be able to go to Northern Ireland in a peaceful way and enjoy themselves more when they arrive.

On Question, Motion agreed to.