HL Deb 21 November 1985 vol 468 cc719-20WA
Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to proceed with a merger of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board.

The Secretary of State for Employment (Lord Young of Graffham)

Following consultation with my right honourable friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and with Mr. Duncan Bluck, the chairman of both the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board, we have concluded that there should be no further steps towards a merger of the two bodies. The present arrangements whereby the boards share common premises and have certain common services departments are working well. A merger, which would require amendment to the 1969 Development of Tourism Act, would probably yield little further gain in efficiency and could lead to difficulties in the promotional activities of the BTA in relation to Scotland and Wales.