§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will increase the amount of aid available for tourism and, in particular, for farm-based tourist schemes.
§ Mr. Norman LamontI have no current plans to increase the aid provided by my Department to assist the tourist industry which this year amounts to £32.5 million taking into account the grants-in-aid of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board and the provision for the operation of the section 4 tourism assistance scheme in England.
Farm tourism is already able to benefit under the section 4 scheme and from the BTA's marketing and advisory services.
The level of the funds made available to the tourist boards for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretaries of State for those countries.