HC Deb 22 July 1931 vol 255 cc1503-4W
Captain CROOKSHANK

asked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what progress he has made in his schemes for increasing the tourist traffic in Great Britain as an aid to relieving unemployment?

Mr. GILLETT

I presume the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the Travel Association of Great Britain and Ireland, which has the support of His Majesty's Government and of whose executive committee the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade is chairman. This association has recently opened an office in Paris, supplementing its offices in New York and Buenos Aires, and in these centres and throughout the world the association has the support of His Majesty's representatives and the British chambers of commerce in the distribution of their numerous publications. At home the association is in consultation with Departments regarding Government regulations affecting visitors, a matter in which my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal is taking a personal interest, and a number of concessions have already been made. I am hopeful that now that local authorities are empowered to support the association it will be possible to extend widely its very useful work.