HC Deb 16 January 1990 vol 165 c218W
13. Mr. Gregory

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is his revised estimate for the numbers and value of overseas visitors to the United Kingdom for 1989; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

A total of 14.9 million overseas visitors are estimated to have come to the United Kingdom in the first 10 months of 1989, spending about £5.8 billion.

Both the number of visitors and their total expenditure were 9 per cent. more than in the same period last year. The estimate for the whole of 1989 will be published on 7 March.

Mr. Franks

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has taken to assist the tourist industry since the ending of section 4 grants.

Mr. Nicholls

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Elmet (Mr. Batiste) on 28 November 1989,Official Report, column 212, regarding my Department's review of tourism policy.