Falkland Islands (Hansard, 15 October 1990)

§ Mr. Kilfedder
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present position with regard to the development of tourism in the Falklands; and what part the new airport at Mount Pleasant has played in that development.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
The Falkland Islands Government are at present diversifying their current economic base of agriculture and fisheries into other areas such as tourism. The Falkland Islands Government have close links with United Kingdom based tour operators to encourage tourist groups to visit the Islands. Links are also being developed with Chile and Uruguay. The opening of the airport at Mount Pleasant has facilitated visits by land-based groups who previously could not have visited the Falklands.

§ Mr. Kilfedder
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the position with regard to the purchase of large land holdings in the Falklands and their subsequent resale in smaller lots to owner occupiers.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
As recommended by Lord Shackleton's report in September 1982, the Falklands Islands Government have followed in recent years a policy of subdivision of large farms into smaller units. A total of 13 large farms have been divided to create 38 new farms. In eight years the number of individual farms has increased from 36 to 92. Further subdivision has been halted until the results of the previous subdivisions have been assessed fully.

§ Mr. Kilfedder
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals put forward by Lord Shackleton in 1982 have been implemented in the Falklands Islands and with what results.

§ Mr. Garel-Jones
Most of the recommendations made by Lord Shackleton and his team in September 1982 have been implemented, such as the establishment of a Falkland Islands Development Corporation, the subdivision of large farms, the development of agriculture and tourism industries, the establishment of a fisheries zone (of 150 miles but not the 200 recommended in the report) and the employment of a chief executive. Others, such as the provision of camp roads are in the process of being implemented. All the recommendations which have been implemented have had a positive effect on the islands' economy.