§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government what sum of money they have issued in grants under Section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969; and how much each year has been reimbursed by the European Regional Development Fund.
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Cockfield)The following figures show grants paid to tourism projects in England, Scotland and Wales under Section 4 since the sheme began in 1971. Alongside are figures for ERDG allocations to private sector tourism projects in Assisted Areas from 1975, when the Fund came into being, until August 1982 when Section 4 coverage was extended to the whole country.
| Section 4 grants | ERDF allocations | ||
| 1971/2 | £319,090 | ||
| 1972/3 | £740,315 | ||
| 1973/4 | £1,262,180 | ||
| 1974/5 | £1,205,901 | ||
| 1975/6 | £2,226,449 | ||
| 1976/7 | £2,920,070 | 1976 | £289,321 |
| 1977/8 | £3,378,780 | 1977 | £83,531 |
| 1978/9 | £3,965,575 | 1978 | — |
| 1979/80 | £7,230,518 | 1979 | £500,000 |
| 1980/81 | £7,608,097 | 1980 | £444,625 |
| 1981/82 | £7,860,210 | 1981 | £45,000 |
| 1982/83 | £8,641,513 | 1982 | £163,000 |
§ ERDF assistance is also available, by a different route, to local authorities and other public bodies for the creation of infrastructures in the Assisted Areas. Tourism infrastructures continue to receive ERDF support in this way.
§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the net annual loss to the British taxpayer since the grants under Section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 ceased to be eligible for assistance under the European Regional Development Fund.
§ Lord CockfieldGrants to tourism projects are made under Section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969. The change referred to has had no discernable effect. No part of a member state's quota is required to be taken up in support of private sector tourism projects. Therefore, the change would not of itself affect the United Kingdom's right to take up its full quota. In any event any part of the United Kingdom's quota not taken up in any one year may be carried forward and claimed in subsequent years for any other type of eligible project.