§ Lord Fearnasked Her Majesty's Government:
What help they have given to the tourism industry in areas affected by the foot and mouth epidemic over the last 12 months. [HL1991]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe Regional Development Agency Business Recovery Fund, established in April, is designed to provide targeted help for rural businesses, including tourism businesses, affected by the consequent implications of foot and mouth disease. On 18 October, the Government allocated a further £24 million to the fund, taking the total to £74 million. The fund is one element in a package of recovery assistance for tourism that includes hardship business rate relief and interest-free deferral of tax payments.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport provided an additional £3.8 million to the English Tourism Council and £14.2 million to the British 63WA Tourist Authority. These measures and existing programmes will help to encourage tourism.