§ Sir John Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grant aid and other assistance the 114W Northern Ireland Tourist Board receives from public funds; and what are the subventions comparable with those made to the tourist boards in Great Britain.
§ Mr. ViggersIn the financial year 1986–87 the Northern Ireland Tourist Board received grant-in-aid of £2.65 million from the Department of Economic Development. I understand that in the same year the following provision out of public funds was made to the other Tourist Boards in the United Kingdom.
Grant-in-Aid £ million Development of Tourism Act 1969 £ million Total £ million English Tourist Board 10.76 9.5 20.26 Scottish Tourist Board 6.25 2.83 9.08 Welsh Tourist Board 5.35 2.54 7.89 In comparing these figures it should be noted that in Northern Ireland schemes for grant aid to the private sector for the provision of approved tourist accommodation and to the public sector for the provision of approved tourist amenities are administered directly by the Department of Economic Development, whereas in the rest of the United Kingdom the tourist boards administer such schemes under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969. The amount spent by the Department of Economic Development on such schemes in 1986–87 was £2.99 million.