asked the Secretary of State for Trade how much of the 1978–79 grant by the Exchequer for the promotion of tourism was spent in the development areas; what was the conclusion of the inter-departmental programmes analysis review as to the return to the public at large on the moneys spent outside the development areas; and whether, in view of the cuts in education and other essential services, he will set a date by which public assistance to the promotion of tourism outside the development areas will be withdrawn.
No precise records are maintained of the amount of the grant provided for the promotion of tourism that is spent in the assisted areas, though in the case of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourist Board this would be substantial. In the case of Scotland and Wales, the whole of the grant to the Scottish and Wales Tourist Boards is devoted to this purpose. All of the money provided for tourism project assistance under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 is spent in the assisted areas.
We have reviewed the tourism programme and the work of BTA and the three national Boards. It is very difficult to quantify the benefits resulting from different aspects of the expenditure on tourism. The employment sustained by the tourist industry, over one million jobs, and the contribution made by tourism to our foreign exchange earnings, nearly £1 billion net in 1978, do however suggest that some expenditure is justified.
The Government have no present plans to withdraw public assistance to the promotion of tourism beyond the cuts from the previous Government's plans already announced for 1980–81.