§ Mr. Macleanasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he is taking to bring to the attention of farmers the grants which are available to diversify into tourism; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what expertise is being developed at local level to help and advise farmers who wish to take up a grant for tourism and crafts;
(3) what expertise on tourism marketing is being developed at a local level to enable his Department's officials to make decisions on the suitability of marketing plans, as described in his Department's booklet A.I.S. 6, "Tourism and Crafts", paragraph 28;
417W(4) if he will make a statement on liaison between his Department and the tourist boards over the operation of his Department's new grants for tourism and crafts.
§ Mrs. FennerMy Department has published a comprehensive range of advisory leaflets on grants available under the agriculture improvement scheme and has arranged for wide publicity in the national and local press and at farming conferences, agricultural shows and so on.
My Department has a team of specialist advisers on farm tourism and crafts who maintain close contacts with the tourist boards and the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas and participate in the boards' development panels and the regional tourism steering committees of the Department of Employment.
MAFF booklet 2005—"Farmhouse and Self-catering Accommodation"—contains comprehensive information on the minimum voluntary standards recommended by the English Tourist Board. This booklet has gone to all farmers known to have an interest in tourism.