21/07/07

QUESTIONING MINISTER FOR TOURISM

At the Annual General Meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Tourism on Wednesday, Bournemouth West M.P., Sir John Butterfill, questioned the Minister for Tourism, Margaret Hodge about the Revenue Support Grant and the removal of the allowance for day visitors.  He said that the removal of this allowance had badly affected resorts like Bournemouth and that its loss had resulted in Council Tax rises which were proving financially difficult for his constituents. 

John also raised with the Minister his concern that our Embassies and the British Council abroad do not give enough support to language schools in this country.  He feels that they should be encouraging students to come to this country to study the English language rather than assisting them to be taught abroad.

The Minister agreed with John on both these points and said she would look into them.  She agreed that she would raise the question of promoting our language schools with the relevant authorities and that she would also look into the question of the day visitor element of the Revenue Support Grant.