§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many people employed by the tourist boards in the United Kingdom spend a substantial amount of their time publicising tourism outside the United Kingdom;
(2) how many people are employed by the various tourist boards in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MeacherEmployment on 1st April 1976 in the various tourist boards in the United Kingdom was as follows:
English Tourist Board, including its regional tourist boards 331 Northern Ireland Tourist Board 71 Scottish Tourist Board 102 Wales Tourist Board including its regional tourism councils 84 British Tourist Authority, including overseas offices 454 Work overseas to encourage visitors to Britain is the responsibility only of the BTA under the Development of Tourism, Act and 164 of its staff are employed in the overseas offices. The authority also undertakes appropriate overseas work on behalf of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland and Scotland, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales are responsible for the national tourist boards, promoting the development of tourism in each of those countries.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the cost to public funds of the various tourist boards in the United Kingdom in each year since 1970:
370W(2) what is the cost to public funds of the various tourist boards in the United Kingdom;
(3) what is the cost to public funds of the promotion of tourism.
§ Mr. MeacherAnnual provisions for the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for 1971–75 were contained in the Northern Ireland Appropriation Accounts; and in respect of 1975 were set out in the Northern Ireland Annual Estimates (Class VI); figures for 1976–77 have not yet been published.
Provisions for the British Tourist Authority and the English National Tourist Board for the years concerned are set out in the Annual Estimates (Class IV).
Presentation of figures for the boards for Scotland and Wales has been less standardised and I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 7th April.
All published figures are available in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade who are the chairmen of the tourist boards in the United Kingdom: and what are their salaries.
§ Mr. MeacherThe chairmen of the five statutory tourist boards in the United Kingdom and their salaries are
British Tourist Authority, Sir Alexander Glen, £6,415.English Tourist Board, Sir Mark Henig, £6,415.Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Lord O'Neill, £1,000.Scottish Tourist Board, Mr. Robin MacLellan, £4,360.Wales Tourist Board, Mr. T. Mervyn Jones. £4,498.All are part-time appointments.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set out the functions and activities of the tourist boards in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MeacherThe functions of the four statutory tourist boards in Great Britain are set out in the Development of Tourism Act 1969; and those of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in the Development of Tourist Traffic Act 371W (Northern Ireland) 1948 and the Development of Tourist Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.