Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Tourism Industry

Wednesday 6 July 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tourism is crucial to Clwyd South, attracting international visitors for events like the Llangollen international musical eisteddfod.
  • The Welsh Labour Government's plans to introduce a tourism tax were condemned by UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls as ill thought through and proposed without an impact assessment.
  • Kevin Brennan suggested the current Tory leader could help tourism in Wales by purchasing a home there, an idea the Secretary of State for Wales did not directly endorse.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Simon Baynes
Economy
Context

The MP notes the importance of tourism for Clwyd South, mentioning a significant cultural event taking place.

Question

Tourism is crucial to Clwyd South, which attracts visitors from all across the world for events such as the Llangollen international musical eisteddfod, which is taking place this week. Will my right hon. Friend join me in condemning the Welsh Labour Government's plans to introduce a tourism tax, which will do great damage to the tourism industry across the whole of Wales?

Answer from Simon Hart

I think I can do even better than my hon. Friend requests me to by simply quoting the words of the chief executive of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls, who said: “The tourism tax is ill thought through and proposed without any impact assessment. Welsh Government does not know why it is needed, what its effect will be on visitors and what damage it will do to businesses and jobs in a sector making up a quarter of the Welsh economy. It is unnecessary, unhelpful and ill considered.” If the House does not believe it from me, it should believe it from the experts in this particular field.

Answered
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Q2 Simon Baynes
Economy
Context

The MP criticises the Welsh Labour Government's tourism tax plan.

Question

Tourism is crucial to Clwyd South, which attracts visitors from all across the world for events such as the Llangollen international musical eisteddfod, which is taking place this week. Will my right hon. Friend join me in condemning the Welsh Labour Government's plans to introduce a tourism tax, which will do great damage to the tourism industry across the whole of Wales?

Answer from Simon Hart

I think I can do even better than my hon. Friend requests me to by simply quoting the words of the chief executive of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls, who said: “The tourism tax is ill thought through and proposed without any impact assessment. Welsh Government does not know why it is needed, what its effect will be on visitors and what damage it will do to businesses and jobs in a sector making up a quarter of the Welsh economy. It is unnecessary, unhelpful and ill considered.” If the House does not believe it from me, it should believe it from the experts in this particular field.

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Q3 Kevin Brennan Lab
Wales Business & Trade
Context

The MP references a previous Tory leader who bought a home in Wales and suggests that the current Tory leader could help tourism by buying a home elsewhere.

Question

On tourism in Wales, when a previous Tory leader resigned, he not only visited Wales but bought a home in Wales. Can I suggest that one way the Secretary of State for Wales could help tourism in Wales is by encouraging the current Tory leader to follow suit, resign and buy a home, although perhaps not in Wales—perhaps somewhere else?

Answer from Simon Hart

Perhaps I can encourage the hon. Gentleman to persuade his colleague in Cardiff, the First Minister, to drop his ridiculous plans for a tourism tax and for various other means of punishing successful businesses in Wales. If he did that, perhaps we could create some lasting jobs in Wales rather than simply listening to his political protestations.

Not addressed: the suggestion about the Tory leader buying a home elsewhere

How: Changing Subject, Criticising Opposition Plans

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