§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the level of funding in real terms required for the British Tourist Authority in each financial year since 1979–80.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe following table shows the amounts provided by way of grant-in-aid to the British Tourist Authority in financial years 1979–80 to 1982–83 at constant 1982 prices using the implied United Kingdom market price GDP deflator. Figures for 1983–84 on a comparable basis are not yet available.
708W
£ 1979–80 17,498,800 1980–81 16,413,900 1981–82 17,030,300 1982–83 17,823,800 These figures do not reflect the real level of spending by the BTA overseas, since they do not take account of rates of inflation in different markets or fluctuations in exchange rates between £ sterling and relevant foreign currencies. In both 1982–83 and 1983–84 supplementary provisions were granted to the BTA to compensate for the effects of depreciation of sterling against certain currencies after the level of grant-in-aid had been determined for the year.