HC Deb 18 October 1949 vol 468 cc11-2W
81. Sir I. Fraser

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now consider the merging of the Tourist Board in the Travel Association.

87. Sir T. Moore

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an estimate of the economy which would result if the British Tourist and Holidays Board were to be suspended, and the work of developing tourist traffic to this country left entirely to the Travel Association; and whether he will make inquiries as to the desirability of such a course, having regard to the present need for eliminating unnecessary expenditure.

Mr. Bottomley

The British Tourist and Holidays Board has a wider sphere of activity than the Travel Association (which at present acts as one of the four divisions and under the general direction of the Board) and undertakes various tasks which could not be performed by the Travel Association. It is not, therefore, the case that economy would result from the suspension of the British Tourist and Holidays Board, since other means would have to be found of carrying on its work. For the same reason, and also because we regard as most valuable the contribution made by the British Tourist and Holidays Board, and its energetic Chairman, Sir Alexander Maxwell, to the important work of increasing our earnings from tourist traffic, we have no intention of merging the Tourist Board in the Travel Association. I believe, however, that there might be notable increases in efficiency of operation, and possibly, some saving in administrative cost, if there were full integration of the two bodies. Discussions on the best way to achieve this end have reached an advanced stage, and, given good will, we hope that agreement will be reached and that we shall be able to make a full announcement shortly.