§ 2.43 p.m.
§ Lord Burlisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will undertake to increase the funds available to the Northumbria Regional Tourist Board as soon as public expenditure constraints permit.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, the Government do not fund the Northumbria Tourist Board directly. However, the English Tourist Board provides some funding for each of the 10 regional tourist boards so that they may implement an agreed programme of activities. The formula used to calculate the level of funding focuses on national and regional tourism objectives and is a matter for agreement between the English Tourist Board and the Northumbria Tourist Board.
§ Lord BurlisonMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his helpful explanation. Now that the north east has got rid of most of its industrial scars, is he aware that it is beautiful and historic and has the fastest growing overseas tourism of any region? Will my noble friend bear in mind that additional investment in tourism will help the economic regeneration of that region?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I am happy to confirm what my noble friend says. The north east is indeed the fastest growing tourism region in the United Kingdom. It has doubled its receipts from tourism in the past five years to approximately £1 billion. That has been recognised in the amount of European regional fund money that it has been able to obtain.
§ Lord Dormand of EasingtonMy Lords, perhaps I may confirm what my noble friend Lord Burlison said. The north east is surely not only the most beautiful but the most interesting region. I have been a member of the Northumbria Regional Tourist Board. Is the Minister aware that some residents of the north east feel that too much tourism might spoil the area? However, as my noble friend said, there is an overwhelming need for 1148 more employment in the north east. Tourism makes a valuable contribution. Perhaps I may remind the Minister—
§ Lord Dormand of EasingtonMy Lords, I am getting out of practice because the Labour Government is in office! Is the Minister aware that the northern region still has the highest rate of unemployment in the country outside Northern Ireland? I hope that the Government will take seriously the Question put by my noble friend.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that further answer—
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I can only excuse myself by saying that I have caught the bug from my noble friend!
Of course we are aware of the importance of tourism in the region, as in the whole country. It represents approximately 3 per cent. of gross domestic product in Northumbria. My noble friend may not have seen this morning's papers. It is reported that a group of Spanish tourist chiefs and catering students from Majorca are coming to Redcar to learn from those people how to run a seaside resort. I hope that that gives my noble friend some encouragement.
§ Baroness RawlingsMy Lords, following the question by the noble Lord, Lord Dormand, regarding the unemployment figures, are the Government prepared to match any EC funding for the area?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, the issue of additionality in EC funding is as complex as it always was. There have been no changes in policy. However, if the noble Baroness looks at the accounts of the Northumbria Regional Tourist Board, she will see that the funding for the board is approximately £300,000 from Government, £300,000 from local authorities—they make an outstanding contribution—less than £100,000 from commercial members, and £300,000 from the European Regional Fund.
§ Lord Taylor of BlackburnMy Lords, is the Minister aware of the great part that tourism plays in the north west, in particular Blackpool? Is he prepared to encourage his friends on the national executive of the Labour Party to take the party conference to Blackpool in the year 2001?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, if I were to follow my noble friend on his first point, I fear that we might make a scenic tour around the entire United Kingdom, and I do not think that the House would appreciate that.
My noble friend's second point is not a matter for Her Majesty's Government, although the Labour Party will of course be Her Majesty's Government in the year 2002.
The Earl of CarlisleMy Lords, does the Minister agree that, if the British Library were to return the Lindisfarne Gospels to the north east where they belong, tourism would increase and the north-eastern economy would be enhanced?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, the matter that the noble Earl raises was the subject of debate in this House in recent weeks. The noble Earl will recall that he alone among all of the speakers in the debate believed that the Lindisfarne Gospels should be returned, as he puts it, to the north east.
Lord Bruce of DoningtonMy Lords, will the noble Lord confirm that the £300 million contribution from the European Community to which he refers in fact comes from this country through direct payment by this country of its share of contributions to the regional fund; and that the likelihood is that we pay in rather more than we get out?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, I am sorry to disappoint my noble friend: it was £300,000, not £300 million. Of course we make our contribution to European budgets. My point was to congratulate the Northumbria Tourist Board on its initiative in submitting successful applications for regional development funding.