Oral Answers to Questions

Alexander Stafford Excerpts

Wednesday 8th July 2020 Commons Chamber

[Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con)]

What steps the Government are taking to help support the tourism industry in Wales during the covid-19 outbreak.

[Alexander Stafford (Rother Valley) (Con)]

What steps the Government taking to help support the tourism industry in Wales during the covid-19 outbreak.

[Scott Benton (Blackpool South) (Con)]

What steps the Government are taking to help support the tourism industry in Wales during the covid-19 outbreak.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alexander Stafford]

The UK internal tourism market will be very important for the rest of this year, not only for Wales in Rother Valley but for Wales as a nation, so does my right hon. Friend agree with those in the Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions who, before they delivered their vote of no confidence in the Welsh First Minister, said that the Welsh Labour administration was “destroying the survival chances” of the tourism industry in Wales?

[Simon Hart]

We really should take some time to reflect on that. As far as I can remember, that is the first time ever that a major representative body, the Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions, has not only passed a vote of no confidence in the First Minister, but also said that his Government are “destroying the survival chances” of an industry in Wales. That, surely, must be the most shameful description of a devolved Government that we have heard in this Chamber.

My hon. Friend is right that 160,000 jobs are dependent on the industry—9.5% of the workforce of Wales. It deserves far better treatment than it has so far had at the hands of the Welsh Government, and I welcome his ability to raise it in the House—