Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Commerce – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 7 Awst 1947.
asked the President of the Board of Trade what authority has been given to the Tourist Board to make sure that foreign visitors to this country, both children in groups and single visitors, are given the maximum amount of amenities possible under present conditions, by co-ordinating bodies working in the industry; and whether he will consider giving some kind of official certificate to approved travel associations.
I am confident that, given good will on all sides, the British Tourist and Holidays Board will secure the voluntary co-operation of the main organisations concerned and will ensure that overseas visitors to this country are accorded the best possible reception. I am not clear what special authority the hon. Member has in mind. As regards the second part of the Question, I am not satisfied at present that restrictive control, of the kind which the hon. Member suggests, is needed.
Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that since the original announcement that the Tourist Board was being formed was made, there has been considerable uncertainty about its powers? Does he not consider that such things as the scandal of the World Friendship Association would probably not have occurred if the Tourist Board or the Travel Association and other bodies had had it in their power to control such activities?
I do not think it is necessarily the case that if they had had wider powers, they would have been able to stop this particular organisation. The question whether these wider powers may be necessary in the future will be considered, if it arises.