§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the number of persons in his Department whose duties are primarily concerned with the tourist industry;
(2) if he will establish a section within his Department to assist in the development of the Welsh tourist industry, in view of the substantial contribution it is already making to the Welsh economy;
(3) whether he will make a further statement about new measures to stimulate the development of the Welsh tourist industry.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesIt is primarily for the Wales Tourist Board to promote the development of the tourist industry in Wales. The Welsh Office has a strong general interest and has an assessor attached to the Board. The Tourist Board has been enabled recently to strengthen its staff and extend its activities. The Board will also work closely in Wales with the Development Commission in the latter's new scheme starting on 1st March for offering loans of up to£25,000 to hotels, guest houses and the like in the rural areas or country towns in the Welsh Development Area. This 109W should strengthen the economy of these areas in Wales and provide opportunities for employment in places to which it is not easy to attract industry.
§ Mr. William Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Wales in view of the importance of the tourist industry to Wales, if he will make the new funds which he has allocated to the development of the tourist industry widely known in Wales; and whether he will consult with the Welsh Tourist Board on the best method to administer these funds in Wales.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesFinancial assistance under this new scheme will come from the Development Commission through the Rural Industries Loan Fund, not from the Welsh Office. However, both my Department and the Wales Tourist Board have been fully consulted about the administration of the scheme in Wales. The Board and the Rural Industries Committees are arranging to make the scheme widely known wherever it is of interest in the Welsh Development Area.