§ Mr. Ottawayasked the Paymaster General if the review of the section 4 financial assistance scheme for tourism in England has been completed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TrippierThe Department has recently completed its review of the scheme of financial assistance run by the English tourist board under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969. The Government announced in the tourism review statement on 22 November 1983 at columns 167–80 that we planned to maintain grants for section 4 expenditure in England at about the current level over the four years to 1986–87 giving a total of some £35 million for the period. It was agreed to review the scheme towards the end of that period.
The Government have now decided to continue the section 4 scheme in England. In reaching this decision, 601W account has been taken of a study carried out by Department of Employment economists which indicates that the scheme has a valuable role in the creation of jobs at regional and local level. The English tourist board has therefore been requested to develop detailed proposals for the launch later this year of a revised section 4 scheme. This will reflect the findings of the Department's study and of the ETB's own assessment of work carried out by its consultants.
Decisions on the future level of funding for the scheme will be announced in the autumn after the current year's public expenditure round has been completed.
The scheme will also continue to be operated in Scotland and Wales.