§ 48. Mr. Awberyasked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the tourist trade is rapidly increasing and is becoming one of the United Kingdom's 26W most important industries; if he will give the number of tourists for the latest available month and for the comparable period last year; and if he will consider the advisability of establishing a Ministry for Tourism in order further to encourage this traffic.
§ The Prime MinisterI welcome the increase in the tourist trade. It is estimated that 348,000 overseas visitors arrived in the United Kingdom during the first four months of 1961 as compared with 299,000 during the same period of 1960. As regards the last part of the Question, I do not consider that the creation of a Ministry of Tourism would be an improvement on our existing interdepartmental arrangements.