§ Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what he estimates will be the details of expenditure from public funds on the accommodation of the Royal Household at Caernarvon on the occasion of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon.
§ Mr. George ThomasIt is not yet known how many members of the Royal Household will be at Caernarvon, but my estimates do not provide for any charge to public funds for their accommodation.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received against the expenditure of public money on the proposed Investiture of the Prince of Wales; and if he will publish the terms of his reply.
§ Mr. George ThomasI have had only three letters of protest against the proposed expenditure of £200,000. My replies have stressed the emphasis that has been placed on economy, the modesty of the expenditure in relation to that for previous State occasions of comparable importance and the benefits to Wales of having the ceremony within the Principality rather than elsewhere.
§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Wales on what basis he calculated that the cost to public funds of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales will be recouped by six or seven times in terms of increased tourist trade; and if he will publish the detailed analysis of his calculations.
§ Mr. George ThomasThe annual revenue from tourism in Wales was estimated by the Wales Tourist Board to be about £65 million. Because of the added attraction of the Investiture and258W the associated celebrations, it is not unreasonable to expect an increase in this revenue of just under 2 per cent. Indeed, it could be argued that this is a very conservative estimate.