HC Deb 27 February 1995 vol 255 cc437-8W
14. Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he is taking to ensure comparable investment per capita in the promotion of tourism in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Mr. Dorrell

Allocations to the national tourist boards reflect the differing circumstances and priorities in each country and are not made on a per capita basis. Direct comparisons are therefore misleading.

21. Sir David Knox

To ask the Secretary of State for National heritage what plans he has to promote tourism in the midlands.

Mr. Dorrell

Government support for tourism is channelled through the statutory British Tourist Authority and English tourist board. Through the English tourist board, support is made available to the 11 non-statutory regional tourist boards, including the heart of England tourist board and east midlands tourist board.

22. Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the current work of the British Tourist Authority.

Mr. Dorrell

The British Tourist Authority promotes Britain as a tourist destination in overseas markets. The Department of National Heritage will be providing £34.5 million in grant in aid to the BTA in the coming financial year.

I shall be making public my agenda for action by Government and the tourist boards to help the tourist industry improve its competitive performance on 1 March.

26. Mr. Hendry

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his most recent estimate of the value of tourism to the English economy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell

The United Kingdom's earnings from domestic and inbound tourism are estimated to have been £33 billion in 1993. This represents 5.2 per cent. of gross domestic product. Figures for England alone are not available.

Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the estimated contribution from(a) the single regeneration budget, (b) the total public sector and (c) the private sector to London's tourism over each of the next five years.

Mr. Dorrell

London will benefit from the single regeneration budget by £316 million over the next seven years and an investment of this size will have a substantial effect in attracting visitors to the capital. In November, I announced £4 million of public funds that would be made available for BTA to run a marketing campaign in conjunction with the London tourist board; this will be matched from the private sector. The LTB will also receive £439,000 of public funds from the English tourist board this year. Forecasts of SRB, public and private funding for the next five years are not available.