§ Rev. Ian PaisleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the names of the directors of Rural Cottage Holidays Ltd.; how much grant has been made available to this organisation from the Government or European Union sources over the past two years; how many developments have been assisted by Rural Cottage Holidays Ltd.; what measures have been undertaken by the Northern Ireland tourist board to market or promote directly or indirectly the activities of Rural Cottage Holidays Ltd.; who are the owners of the establishments leased to Rural Cottage Holidays Ltd.; and what monitoring he has undertaken to ensure that this body, and those establishments supported by it, have not received any more preferential support in the marketing and promotion of their activities than is given to other self-catering developments in Northern Ireland. [26630]
§ Mr. AncramThe names of the directors of Rural Cottage Holidays Ltd. are:
- Mr. J. Armstrong
- Mr. I. Henderson
- Dr. D. MacNeice
- Mr. G. McWhinney
- Mr. D. Myles
- Lord Rathcavan
- Ms M. Ritchie
- Mr. T. Sturgess
Over the past two years, £375,000 has been made available to the organisation from Government and European Union sources.
To date, four cottages have received assistance.
Rural Cottage Holidays Ltd. undertakes its own marketing. NITB will offer advice and support to the company on its marketing and promotional activities as it does with any tourism organisation or individual accommodation provider.
Leases have been signed with the following:
- Mr. M. Jameson: Ballycastle
- Mr. H. McDonnell: Glenarm
- Mr. G. McKeown: Broughshane (2 cottages)
The activities of Rural Cottage Holidays Ltd. will be monitored by the Northern Ireland tourist board. The tourist board is represented on the board of the company and will ensure that the company and its properties do not receive preferential support towards marketing and promotion activities.