Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

John Penrose Excerpts
Thursday 14th February 2013

(11 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Penrose Portrait John Penrose (Weston-super-Mare) (Con)
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Does the tourism Minister have a view on recent proposals by the BAA to raise the per-passenger charges at Heathrow and does he have plans to make representations to other Whitehall Departments to address the potential effect on the tourism industry?

Hugh Robertson Portrait Hugh Robertson
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Yes; as my hon. Friend is well aware, if money is raised in one area and there is a cut, it generally has to be found from somewhere else, and of course raising these duties has the perverse effect of encouraging people to take their holidays in this country. There is a balance to be struck, however, and that is what we are trying to do.