§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in(a) the Treasury and
244W(b) the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions concerning the economic impact on the tourism industry of foot and mouth disease; [153744]
(2) what discussions he has had with representatives of the tourism industry regarding the availability of compensation for loss of business resulting from foot and mouth disease; [153743]
(3) what estimate he has made of the economic impact of foot and mouth disease on the tourism industry. [153745]
§ Mr. Chris SmithI refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made in the House on 14 March 2001,Official Report, columns 1021–36 and to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 20 March 2001, Official Report, columns 191–210.
My hon. Friend the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting has met with industry representatives to discuss the economic difficulties facing the tourism industry on a number of occasions in the last few weeks; she also visited Devon on 14 March to hear firsthand from tourism businesses. I similarly visited Cumbria on 16 and 17 March, and have had a number of meetings with tourism representatives and with ministerial colleagues.