§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade what was estimated to be the total cost of the hotel development incentive scheme at the time of the passing of the Development of Tourism Act 1969; and what the scheme has finally cost.
§ Mr. MeacherThe Financial Memorandum associated with the passage of the statute stated that the future rate could not be closely estimated but that it was possible that annual expenditure could rise to about £8 million. The first year of effective expenditure was 1970–71. Actual expenditure to the end of the last financial year has been about £57 million. A handful of claims are still outstanding.