HC Deb 25 November 1974 vol 882 cc22-3W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of the total amount of grant money made available under the hotel development scheme of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 has been granted to non-British hotel companies.

Mr. Deakins

The Act did not discriminate between national and non-British hotel companies so this information could not be obtained without undue expense, but I am informed by the English Tourist Board that if any sums have been granted to companies registered outside the United Kingdom the figure would be very small.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was estimated, in 1969, to be the total cost of the hotel grant scheme of the Development of Tourism Act 1969; what has in fact been the total expenditure to date; and what he estimates the final expenditure to be.

Mr. Deakins

It was not possible to make a reliable estimate of total expenditure on grants and loans under the hotel incentive scheme in 1969, since this depended on the level and timing of investment qualifying for assistance, but it was thought that on certain assumptions about investment levels the total might be of the order of 27 million at 1969 prices. Expenditure to 31st March 1973—the latest published figure—was £47.5 million; the final total expenditure is expected to be approximately £52 million.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what plans his Department has to introduce Part III of the Development of Tourism Act 1969.

Mr. Deakins

Part III of the Act came into force on 25th August 1969.