HC Deb 16 January 2001 vol 361 cc132-3W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much European funding has been obtained for tourism in(a) England, (b) north-west England and (c) Merseyside for 2001. [144909]

Janet Anderson

There are numerous potential sources of European funding that could benefit tourism in this country. For instance, economically depressed areas in the UK will benefit from over £6 billion of European regional funding under Objectives 1 and 2. Merseyside will receive £840 million of Objective 1 funding during the seven year programme to help economic development. Objective 2 funding totalling £500 million over this period will be providing help to parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria. It is difficult to identify the precise amount of an award that would benefit a specific sector such as tourism. However, we have been advised by the North West Tourist Board that tourism in Sefton and Liverpool will benefit from an award of £1.5 million under Objective 1. There will also be support for Liverpool's bid for European Capital of Culture, Sefton's integrated tourism marketing initiative and the Merseyside Partnership's Merseyside Advantage strategy from the European Regional Development Fund.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for improving tourism in the Merseyside area in 2001. [144945]

Janet Anderson

This Department's national strategy, "Tomorrows Tourism", sets out a framework for the sustainable development of tourism throughout England, including Merseyside. As part of that strategy we provide funding via the English Tourism Council to support projects in the regions. The North West Tourist Board and local partners are responsible for delivering the regional strategy for their area. We have been advised by the Board that tourism will benefit from an award of £1.5 million to Sefton and Liverpool under Objective 1 (Sefton's share of the award is £400,000) and from European Regional Development Fund support for Liverpool's bid for the European Capital of Culture, for Sefton's integrated tourism marketing initiative and for the Merseyside Partnership's Merseyside Advantage Strategy.