HC Deb 26 October 2000 vol 355 c179W
Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the provision of regional television news programmes. [134479]

Janet Anderson

The BBC is required, under its Charter and Agreement, to provide regional news and ITV licensees are required under the terms of their licences, to include in their regional programmes, minimum amounts of news of particular interest to viewers in their region. The BBC Governors give their assessment of the BBC's performance and compliance with its various obligations

Average spending by visitors 1999
Overseas residents UK residents
Visits to the UK (Thousand) Spending (£ million) Average spend per visit (£) Visits within the UK (Thousand) Spending (£) Average spend per visit (£)
United Kingdom 25,394 12,370 487 145.9 15,925 109
England 21,506 11,030 513 123.3 12,915 105
Scotland 1,856 817 440 10.5 1,665 158
Wales 1,010 269 267 10.9 1,135 104
Northern Ireland 294 109 370 1.2 210 175

Source:

The International Passenger Survey and The UK Tourist Key: Key Trends 1990–99

The IPS interviews a random sample of passengers as they enter or leave the UK by the principal air, sea and tunnel routes. The UKTS is based on interviews with a random sample of UK adult residents for every survey. The results from the interviews are weighed, taking into account of a number of factors, to produce national estimates. The national estimates are then used to calculate average spend per tourist trip.