§ 2.52 p.m.
§ Baroness Lane-FoxMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied with the state of the tourism industry in the United Kingdom.
§ The Secretary of State for Employment (Lord Young of Graffham)My Lords, in view of the record figures for incoming tourism during 1985 which were announced in February, we are satisfied that the industry is making a significant contribution to the economy. These figures saw overseas visitor spending increase by 19 per cent. on the 1984 figure, which was itself a record.
§ Baroness Lane-FoxMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that those of us who live in London and who see and hear the number of foreign visitors can hardly be surprised at the good news contained in his reply? In thanking him for that reply, may I ask whether he can tell us of any plans for maintaining and perhaps extending that development?
§ Lord Young of GraffhamMy Lords, we live at a time when tourism continues to enjoy a worldwide growth, and it is important for the prospects for employment and growth in the United Kingdom economy that we take our fair share of tourists and encourage them to return. The Government play their part by giving support in the form of grant-in-aid to the tourist boards, but in this regard we look primarily to the industry itself, which I know is making great efforts to improve the standards of service, welcome, accommodation and tourist attractions. At the end of the day we must do all that we can to ensure that our visitors want to come back.
§ Baroness SeearMy Lords, is the Secretary of State satisfied with the training provision in the tourist industry in relation to catering, service and knowledge of languages for the people who will be serving our visitors in this coming year?
§ Lord Young of GraffhamMy Lords, I am rarely satisfied on matters of training. All I can say is that YTS is making a significant contribution to the professionalism of the tourist industry and that for the very first time there is a national two-year training programme which can lead to improved standards. However, I suspect that we still live in a world where we equate service with servility and it is difficult to persuade young people of the worthwhile occupations that exist within the tourism industry.
§ Lord Ponsonby of ShulbredeMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether he is satisfied that there is a 81 sufficiency of hotel rooms in central London to cope with the tourist demand?
§ Lord Young of GraffhamMy Lords, we are looking forward to receiving a report which will consider the adequacy of hotel rooms. I suspect that there are not a sufficient number, but I also know that this is a matter for local democracy in terms of town planning.
§ Lord Boyd-CarpenterMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Government could help the tourist industry very much by getting the Shops Bill on the statute book as quickly as possible and by proceeding to amend our archaic, if slightly comic, licensing laws?
§ Lord Young of GraffhamYes, my Lords.
Lord Bruce of DoningtonMy Lords, although I appreciate the positive news that the noble Lord is able to give us, will he take the opportunity at some time of reminding some hotels, and particularly those in London, of the dangers inherent in grossly overcharging, and will he ask them whether it would perhaps be better to look after the long-term interests of the industry rather than take the opportunity, which they all too frequently do, of a short-term rip-off?
§ Lord Young of GraffhamMy Lords, I have always found that those who take short-term advantage of situations pay the price. I hope very much that the tourism industry and hotels in central London and throughout the United Kingdom are aware of conduct which is in the industry's best long-term interest. However, I must say that the spending of overseas visitors to the United Kingdom—and they contributed £5,500 million in 1985, which, as I said, was an increase of 19 per cent.—is still a minor part of the total spend on tourism in this country, which was £13,000 million. The majority of the money spent on tourism in the United Kingdom is still spent by Britons travelling in Britain.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, does the noble Lord agree that the Shops Bill applies only to one single day but that the archaic licensing laws apply to every day and are an embarrassment every day? Can he further say whether the Government are prepared to look at the debate that took place in this House last night and the tremendously erudite and realistic propositions contained therein, which I think will undoubtedly help the tourist industry?
§ Lord Young of GraffhamMy Lords, I shall read that debate with great interest, and I hope that the conditions that prevail inside your Lordships' House may one day prevail throughout the country.