§ Sir Hector Monroasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the impact of the recent increase in the price of petrol of 10 pence per gallon on tourism in rural areas.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI am well aware of the tourism industry's dependence on road users, particularly in rural areas, and its general sensitivity to price increases. However, as expenditure on petrol generally represents only a small proportion of the total cost of a holiday, any effect of the price increases which eventually emerge is likely to be felt mainly on day trips, and even here the overall effect should be limited.