HC Deb 24 March 1998 vol 309 cc104-5W
Mr. Swinney

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the (i) location of, (ii) running costs of, (iii) salary costs of and (iv) number of staff based at the head office of the British Tourist Authority, the percentage of staff based in(a) head office, (b) London and (c) Scotland and the percentage of salary and running costs incurred in (1) London and (2) Scotland. [36105]

Mr. Tom Clarke

The head office of the British Tourist Authority is located in Hammersmith, London. Its head office running costs in 1996–97 were £10.2 million, including salary costs of £4.7 million. There are 194 posts at the BTA's head office, which equates to 44% of the Authority's total staff. BTA staff based in London (at its head office and the British Travel Centre in Regent Street) represent 47% of total BTA staff—the remaining 53% being based in BTA offices in 37 countries around the world. London based staff account for 39% of the Authority's salary budget. The BTA has no offices, and no staff, in Scotland.

Mr. Swinney

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of the British Tourist Authority in Scotland. [36106]

Mr. Tom Clarke

Under the Development of Tourism Act 1969, the British Tourist Authority (BTA) is responsible for marketing Britain overseas. This responsibility covers Scotland, and the Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board (STB) is a member of the Board of the BTA. The Tourism (Overseas Promotion) (Scotland) Act 1984 gave overseas marketing powers to the STB.

The BTA has offices in 37 countries around the world, and in all of these it promotes and provides information about Scotland to potential visitors. The STB works directly with the BTA in a more limited number of markets and the two Boards work closely together in planning campaigns each year in these markets. A new protocol is now being drawn up between the BTA and the other national tourist boards to strengthen and formalise inter-Board co-operation.