§ 27. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he intends to take to assist the tourist industry in Scotland following its loss of investment allowances and its ineligiblity for the new investment grants either at 40 per cent. or 20 per cent.
§ Mr. RossThe details of the new investment incentives are a matter for my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, but I would point out that service industries will have their initial allowances raised from 10 to 30 per cent. and that the hotel and catering industry will also be able to benefit from the extension to almost the whole of Scotland of the Board of Trade building grants and loans. In addition, the Highlands and Islands Development Board has already given assistance to tourist enterprises and is energetically seeking to realise its area's full tourist potential.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he estimates that the tourist industry will benefit from the recently announced investment grants; and what other steps he has taken or will take to help the industry.
§ Mr. RossIn general, the trades that cater for tourists will not be eligible for the new investment grants, but their initial allowance will go up from 10 per cent. to 30 per cent. In addition, the506W enlargement of the former development districts will mean that building grants and loans approved by the Board of Trade Advisory Committee will become much more widely available in Scotland to new and expanding hotels.
The Government are making a grant of £75,000 available to the reconstituted Scottish Tourist Board for a three-year programme of research, and I will continue to seek other appropriate ways of assisting the tourist industry in Scotland.