§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how he proposes to encourage the extension of tourism to areas of England which have not significantly benefited from it in the past.
§ Mr. DorrellThe English tourist board will allocate £7 million in this financial year to the regional tourist boards, which are responsible for the promotion of tourism in their areas.
Tourism projects are also eligible for support from the European regional development fund in selected areas and from the single regeneration budget.
§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the average annual rate of growth in expenditure on tourism in each of the member states of the European Union between 1980 and the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. DorrellThe available figures for the average annual growth of international tourism receipts in member states of the European Union between 1980 and 1992 is as follows:
Percentage Austria 7.2 Denmark 9.1 Finland 5.3 France 9.7 Germany 4.4 Greece 5.4 Ireland 10.8 Italy 8.4 Netherlands 9.6 Portugal 10.3 Spain 10.1 Sweden 10.2 United Kingdom 5.9 Belgium and Luxembourg 7.0 Separate figures for Belgium and Luxembourg are not available.
§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects the publication of the European Union Green Paper on tourism.
128W
§ Mr. DorrellMy Department has been informed that the European Commission plans to approve the text of the Green Paper during March. No publication date has yet been set.
§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the potential of the Internet to promote international awareness of United Kingdom tourism.
§ Mr. DorrellMy Department provides funding to the British Tourist Authority which is responsible for promoting international awareness of the United Kingdom as a tourist destination. The BTA undertakes detailed assessments of marketing opportunities abroad. That work has not as yet included an assessment of the potential of Internet.
§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment his Department has made of the loss to the tourism industry within Great Britain of the withdrawal of all Motorail trains and the loss of sleeping car services between London, Carlisle and Fort William, and between Plymouth and Glasgow.
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 3 March 1995]: My Department has not made such an assessment. However, the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising will take into account representations on the economic benefits of all ScotRail services in his consultations on the passenger service requirement for ScotRail later this year.