HC Deb 26 February 2001 vol 363 cc397-8W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists he estimates visited the north-west in(a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [151304]

Janet Anderson

Estimates for the number of tourists visiting the North West Tourist Board region from the UK, staying at least one night, and from overseas in 1998 and 1999 are shown in the table. Estimates for tourists visiting the North West Tourist Board region in 2000 are not yet available. Figures for the number of day visits by UK residents to the North West Tourist Board region are available only for 1998 and show an estimated 118 million visits in that year.

Source:

Leisure Day Visits Survey

Number of tourists visiting the North West Tourist Board region, 1998 and 1999
Million
Year UK residents Overseas visitors
1998 8.4 1.2
1999 10.8 1.3

Sources:

UK Tourism Survey (domestic tourism) and International Passenger Survey (tourism from overseas)

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many(a) single parents and (b) people over the age of 50 are employed in the tourism industry in the North-West. [151305]

Janet Anderson

Estimates from the Labour Force Survey for the quarter September to November 2000 show that 13,000 single parents and 27,000 people aged 50 and over were employed in tourism related industries in the North-West Tourist Board region.

RAB funding from ACE, 1992– 1995–96
1992–93 Percentage change 1993–94 Percentage change 1994–95 Percentage change 1995–96 Percentage change
East England Arts 4,020 0.4 4,035 16.7 4,842 1.0 4,892 -5.9
East Midland Arts Board 2,672 1.4 2,709 35.3 4,184 3.6 4,341 -4.7
London Arts Board 10,304 2.0 10,510 22.8 13,621 1.8 13,867 -2.7
Northern Arts Board 5,105 1.5 5,184 6.0 5,513 4.2 5,752 -4.4
North West Arts Board 4,977 1.3 5,040 34.7 7,713 0.3 7,733 -3.8

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to encourage the tourism industry to develop training programmes for employees. [151306]

Janet Anderson

Our tourism strategy, Tomorrow's Tourism, contains several recommendations for action to develop a trained and motivated workforce. In particular, we are working with those National Training Organisations (NTOs) which cover the tourism industry to develop training products and qualifications which are of high quality and meet the training needs of the industry. The NTOs in turn work closely with employers in the industry and training providers to identify skills gaps and provide the training to fill those gaps. We also plan to work closely with the new local Learning and Skills Councils to ensure that tourism's training needs are provided for at the regional level.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average annual wage paid to(a) full-time and (b) part-time employees in the tourism industry was during (i) 1998, (ii) 1999 and (iii) 2000. [151296]

Janet Anderson

Estimates for the average annual wage paid to full-time and part-time employees in tourism related industries during 1999 and 2000 are shown in the table. For 1998, only full-time employees' earnings are shown, as a reliable figure for part-time employees is not available.

Gross average annual earnings for tourism related industries, at April each year
£
Full-time Part-time
1998 15,056 not available
1999 15,960 4,489
2000 17,219 5,080

Source:

New Earnings Survey, National Statistics