§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to promote awareness of tourism careers in schools. [36977]
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeIt is important that students, careers advisers and parents are aware of the range of career opportunities there are in tourism. With that in mind, I was very pleased recently to launch Springboard UK, which is receiving pump-priming funding through the Government's Sector Challenge competition. Springboard will provide a national network of one-stop shop careers advice centres, and will work through schools, colleges and universities to ensure that students, teachers and career advisers have access to up-to-date information about the career opportunities in this fast growing sector.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the change in the total number of jobs in tourism-related industries in the year to December 1997 in(a) London and (b) the north-west of England. [36853]
§ Mr. Tom ClarkeThe total number of employees in employment in tourism related industries fell between December 1996 and December 1997 by(a) 5.5% in London and (b) 6.4% in the north-west of England. This compares with a fall of 1.3% in Great Britain overall.