§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money is set aside in the current European Union budget for tourism(a) under the Leader II programme and (b) under other European programmes; how much of this is targeted at projects in the United Kingdom; what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the programmes; and if he will make a statement. [12501]
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeI have been asked to reply. The information is not available in the form requested.
Many Community programmes have an impact on tourism, or tourism has a role to play in them although tourism is not the primary purpose of the programmes. No figures are therefore available which show the total spending which might have relevance to tourism. The Commission has recently produced a report highlighting some of these areas and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport submitted an Explanatory Memorandum to Parliament on 31 July on European Community Document COM(97) 332 FINAL (also numbered 9712/97): Community Measures Affecting Tourism in 1995–96.
The only direct programmes relating to tourism have been the European Year of Tourism 1991 and the Tourism Action Plan of 1993–95, both of which were criticised in European Court of Auditors Special Report No 3/96 (Document 11833/96, also numbered 17859) on tourist policy and the promotion of tourism, on which the European Legislation Committee of the House reported in its Report No 16 session 96/97, and on which there was subsequent correspondence by the Chairman of the Committee and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.