§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how her Department has used the UK indicators for sustainable development in(a) the production of the Department's annual report, (b) monitoring progress towards meeting the objectives set out in the UK sustainable development strategy and 253W (c) assessing the environmental implications of policy options; and what plans they have to extend their use in future within the Department. [12275]
§ Mr. SproatMy Department recognises the indicators for sustainable development as a valuable tool. Although they are not applied in a formal sense either in the production of the Department of National Heritage annual report or in any monitoring system, they are taken into account where appropriate in considering policy options, in particular in the approach to sustainable tourism, to which the Department remains committed. The natural and built heritage are central to the UK's attractiveness as a visitor destination, and it is therefore essential that the tourism industry develops in a way which contributes to conserving and enhancing that heritage. The tourism strategy which we will be publishing on 5 February 1997 will set out further action to encourage sustainable tourism.