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Mr. Sheerman: The Minister probably knows as well as I do that, as my hon. Friend the Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien) pointed out, the crucial factor is the active participation and leadership of local authorities. Many of us believe that, if we are to meet the targets that we all want to meet, local authorities must be given more incentives to take a lead and to be active partners with the private sector. They need encouragement, rather than being knocked back by the Department of the Environment.

Mr. Clappison: I agree with the hon. Gentleman about the need to encourage good practice on the part of local authorities, but I do not think that there are many examples of the Department of the Environment knocking them back. We want to spread good practice wherever possible, but, as the hon. Gentleman will know, practice varies from authority to authority.

The hon. Member for Normanton also mentioned producer responsibility, an important initiative that we have advanced considerably. Following extensive consultation with the packaging business, Government and industry have developed a joint approach for enhanced levels of recovery and recycling of packaging waste to be achieved by 2001. That means, in effect, nearly doubling the amount of packaging waste recovered or recycled in the United Kingdom.

Before the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) leaves the Chamber, may I answer the point that he made about Government leadership? I think

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that the Government have given a lead, but the hon. Gentleman should not doubt that, throughout the process, we have wanted to listen to the voice of industry. We have considered it important to continue to work with industry, and have felt that initiatives should come from it. No one should be under any misapprehension, and imagine that our wish to work with industry and wait for it to develop its views constitutes a lack of leadership. For the reasons outlined by my right hon. Friend the Member for South Ribble, it is important for all the businesses concerned--including the small businesses to which he referred--to be brought on board. We think that we have achieved that, and that industry is now working with us.

Industry has always contended--and the Government have endorsed its view--that, if the United Kingdom is to attain the EC directive targets and comply with the requirements of that directive, the full co-operation and commitment of all sectors of the packaging chain will be needed. Only then will we be in a position to maximise industry's approach to producer responsibility for packaging. We have therefore consulted widely, taking into account a wide range of views from all sectors of industry--including major trade associations and the Confederation of British Industry--and the views of the Packaging Advisory Committee. On 18 December, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the modifications that we will be making to the draft regulations that were issued for consultation in July. The amendments reflect the responses to that consultation, and maintain the consensus that has been generated over the past few years. We will lay the regulations before the House very shortly.

I listened to what the hon. Gentleman said about that. It is important for the obligation to extend widely, to as many firms as possible, and, in particular, for "free riders" to be deterred. We have been concerned about that throughout the process. We want a fair, wide-ranging and equitable system: that is the obligation.

The collective scheme--Valpak--is an important part of that. We have made it clear that we will leave it open to firms to choose individual routes if they wish to do so, although the collective scheme is there if they wish to take advantage of it. It is important for the Government not to place industry in a regulatory straitjacket but to allow it as much flexibility as possible to choose its preferred route and to express its views.

As time is running out, I shall respond to the other points made by the hon. Member for Normanton by writing to him. I should, however, emphasise to him and to the House that the Government have a wide-ranging and comprehensive strategy on this matter which is based on targets that we have set. We have ambitions to improve waste management as part of our overall environmental policy. We believe that we have already achieved a great deal, and we have created the mechanisms to achieve a great deal more in the future. That is our ambition.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael Morris): Order. Time is up.

Tourism (North-West)

1.30 pm

Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): Only a few months ago, Newsweek International, a reputable international magazine, carried the front-page headline, "Cool Britannia", and went on to explain how Britain was such a wonderful place for tourists to visit. Those of us who live in the United Kingdom already knew that, but such headlines will increase the growth of tourism in the UK, which has already grown so much. I believe that, as Britain has given away some of its unskilled manufacturing jobs to low-wage economies, we have developed more sophisticated methods of earning money--one of which is tourism, the world's fastest growing industry.

We had an extremely successful year in 1995. There were 24 million visits to the UK--a 14 per cent. increase on the previous year--which brought in £12 billion to the UK economy. The UK tourist industry now employs almost 2 million people, which is 7 per cent. of the work force and a 31 per cent. increase on the figure 10 years ago. The industry has the potential to create up to 1 million more jobs over the next 10 years.

Tourism is a key economic activity in the area covered by the north-west tourist board, which includes Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. Last year, visitors to the region spent slightly less than £1.5 billion, which accounts for at least 3 per cent. of the local gross domestic product. The figure is even higher in some parts of the region, such as in my constituency in the Ribble valley, and in Blackpool.

It is not surprising that so many jobs are dependent on tourism. In the most recent year for which figures are available, Blackpool, for example, attracted 19 million tourists, and even politicians trek there every two years. Its pleasure beach is Britain's No. 1 tourist attraction, with slightly fewer than 7.5 million visitors a year. Two years ago, its rollercoaster--the "Pepsi Max Big One"--was erected as a monument to my political career: it has as many ups as downs, and it takes ages to get up but only seconds to get down. Next year, the pleasure beach will open another ride, called the "Spaceshot", which represents a £2 million investment. We shall have to wait to see whose political career that will mirror.

The north-west also has less glitzy attractions. My constituency has a large area of outstanding natural beauty, which tourists visit to see historic abbeys, market towns and the forest of Boland. I congratulate the staff of the Clitheroe tourist office on their excellent and helpful approach to tourists. They always have a friendly smile when one goes there, and they are well stocked with leaflets and ready with helpful advice on where to go and stay in the area. I also congratulate them on their imaginative Internet website, which is available worldwide.

We have other tourist areas, such as Park Hall, in Charnock Richard, Chorley--in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Dover)--which attracts many visitors.

Mr. Den Dover (Chorley): Although I accept that Park Hall attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and is a major regional tourist attraction, is my hon. Friend aware of misgivings in the south-east of my

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constituency, in Rivington, about North West Water and United Utilities' promotion of the Lever Park Bill, to which I and other hon. Members will object?

We object because Lord Leverhulme, who established the Unilever empire, gave that land, and did not want it commercialised or entry or parking charges made. The Bill's spirit is to over-commercialise the park. I am against such commercialisation--which is appropriate at Park Hall but not at the heritage site left by Lord Leverhulme, whose wishes we should honour.

Mr. Evans: I am grateful for my hon. Friend's comments, and I am aware of that situation. We must be very careful to ensure that we have areas to which we can attract tourists, and other areas that should perhaps be left unspoilt and not over-commercialised. In my constituency, Castle Cement has filed plans to quarry across the road from its current operation. The last thing that tourists would want to see in an area attempting to attract tourists is massive quarrying. That case is similar to the one mentioned by my hon. Friend.

Tourism creates jobs not only in the tourist sector but in non-tourist sectors--including shops, wholesalers and other providers of goods or consumables. It also creates jobs in transport, which is a massive job provider in the north-west. Manchester airport employs 14,000 people directly, and another 50,000 people in the region are dependent on the facility. The airport has plans to expand, which would double the number of off-site workers who are dependent on it. Its planned expansion includes a second runway, which I shall say more about.

London is an important magnet to attract tourists to the UK, but we must not be over-dependent on it. As world tourism increases, I want the United Kingdom to win its fair share of tourists, but I also want the regions to win their fair share of UK tourism. I have often said in the House that the Ribble valley is an extremely beautiful place and that I am proud of it. When tourists go there, I know that they enjoy its beautiful scenery. However, we are not attracting as many tourists as I would like.

For a variety of reasons, too many tourists stay in London, and are not aware of our wealth of historical sites, the beauty of our countryside, our restaurants or the number of things to do if they were to leave the capital and explore the provinces. The M25 must be regarded as a way out of London for tourists, not as a contraption to keep them in it. Therefore, we should ensure that tourists are attracted into the regions. Success in that drive will not only bring delight to those who discover the joys of the provinces, but will help local economies, such as that in the north-west.

In my constituency, for example, there are many hotels, restaurants and pubs which have won national awards. I am sure that visitors from other countries would enjoy visiting such places as the Inn at Whitewell, which this year won the pub of the year award. It is located in the area to which, allegedly, the Queen would like to retire--I suspect, not only for the beauty of the pub but for the beauty of the region. It is a smashing hotel.

We also have a restaurant called Heathcotes, which is renowned across the north-west and has won two Michelin stars, two Egon Ronay stars and other awards. The Gibbon Bridge hotel, in beautiful Chipping, boasts superb food and a beautiful garden setting. Northcote Manor is a hotel and restaurant, in Langho, which boasts

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a Michelin star and has recently been expanded to accommodate increased demand by tourists in the area. Foxfields hotel is nearby, and the Myton Fold Farm hotel boasts excellent accommodation, and has recently built a golf course.

There are countless other fine hotels and pubs. If I were to try to list them all, the Minister would not have a chance to respond to this debate. However, they prove that one does not have to visit only London to enjoy what Britain has to offer. There are many extremely high-quality services and facilities outside London.

Approximately 200,000 people are employed or self-employed in tourism and hospitality in the regions, which is more than 6 per cent. of the area's work force. In the region, the number employed in those sectors is at least as large as the number employed in defence, aerospace, automotive, textiles and clothing. It is vital that all regions are given at least equal billing with London.

On a practical level, the English tourist board and the British Tourist Authority should ensure that all ports and airports into Britain, including the Eurostar terminal at Waterloo, display advertisements promoting the provinces. There should be kiosks to ensure that people who want to get out of London can do so, and are provided with all the necessary information.

The British Tourist Authority is promoting a package in the United States with Continental Airlines, and uses Manchester airport as the gateway for visitors to Britain. That is a fantastic idea, representing exactly the type of advertising we require to boost regional tourism. However, I should like to see more of it--more advertising like the highly successful campaign in Scandinavia promoting Manchester as a gateway for Swedes and Finns. I think that such campaigns could bring in extra tourism and business.

On a slightly different note, the Government greatly support the industry by helping the BTA and will next year subsidise it to the tune of £35 million. I also thank the Government for their grant of £7.5 million to the Lancashire Tourism Partnership, to help it to boost its tourism strategy. However, I hope that we can find still more imaginative ways to help new businesses and ideas in the area.

I congratulate the BTA on its Internet pages, but I wish that they contained more emphasis on attractions in the north-west. I was impressed by the BTA's clever idea of including a movie map showing film and television locations in Britain, many of which are in the north-west.

My only criticism of the map is that it misses off the film "Whistle Down the Wind". If I have mentioned that film once in the Chamber, I have mentioned it many times. It is set in the village of Downham in my constituency. One of the beauties of the place is that it is still wholly unspoilt, and the same as it was when that excellent film was made many years ago. We also have the Granada Television studios, home of Britain's longest-running and much-loved soap, "Coronation Street". There is a superb themed attraction next to the studios, which attracts many visitors.

On 1 April last year, Manchester airport celebrated 10 years as a public limited company. Since 1985, it has been voted the best United Kingdom airport five times by readers of travel trade magazines, and has been rated the world's best airport in a survey of airline passengers carried out by the International Air Transport Association.

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They are just some of the awards that it has won. They are fantastic achievements, of which the airport and everyone who works there can rightly be proud.

The airport employs massive numbers of people, and provides indirect employment for many more. It currently serves 15 million passengers a year, and 30 per cent. of all UK holiday flights depart from Manchester. The key to the airport's success is expansion. I believe that it hopes to handle 30 million passengers a year by 2005. That means a doubling of traffic in under 10 years, and millions more visitors to the regions. In turn, the number of jobs created by the airport will be greatly increased.

Manchester airport has started a £550 million, 10-year capital spending programme, which includes a major redevelopment of the terminals, expanded rail links, a high-level fully enclosed walkway between the railway station and terminal 2, an integrated public transport exchange linking the rail and bus/coach stations, and, if the proposal goes ahead, the metrolink extension to the airport. These will all provide employment, and facilitate the arrival and journey on of any visitor.

The major plank of the programme, however, is the granting of planning permission for the second runway. I hope that the announcement today will give Manchester airport, which is already the third largest in the UK, the opportunity further to enhance its reputation as the jewel in the crown of regional airports. As it is one of the top 20 airports in the world at the moment, the expansion will surely put it at least in the top 10, and may give relief to Heathrow slots which are always under pressure. I hope that we shall hear some good news about the second runway at Manchester later today.

I must, however, issue a word of caution. There is much enthusiasm about the expansion of Manchester airport, and a further boost would be to facilitate an open skies policy in the UK. I fully understand how that would attract further carriers to Manchester, which would mean more tourists coming to the region. However, that must not be at the price of encouraging carriers to regard an open skies policy as an open door policy--an invitation to them to walk over us and not reciprocate with any deals.

I warn the chairman of Manchester airport, Labour Councillor Graham Stringer, that he should not turn the issue into a party political matter. He should not abuse his position as chairman of the airport by saying that it is the Government's fault that we do not currently have an open skies policy. No one has done more to help and promote Manchester airport and tourism than the Conservative Government.

Councillor Stringer should perhaps turn his attention to some of the damaging proposals that Labour might implement if the nightmare came true and it formed the next Government. Tourism has much to fear from a Labour Government, who would wreck it by imposing damaging and costly burdens. A Labour Government would sign up to the social chapter and adopt a minimum wage, thus undermining the competitiveness of that industry. The 48-hour directive is already threatening the industry--although we are fighting tooth and nail against its introduction, the Labour party would embrace it.

The cost of extending the rights of full-time staff to part-time and temporary employees--new Labour's tourism tax--would have to be met by consumers, who

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would face higher prices, and by those who would lose their jobs as a result. A Labour Government would also extend the powers of European Union institutions to interfere specifically in tourism. For example, the party has stated:

"we do see the need for better and more co-ordinated tourism action in EU institutions."

From what we can see of Labour's plans for the industry, it talks tough but, in reality, the only people who would find it tough are those working in tourism. Everyone needs to know that Labour poses a serious threat to the tourism and leisure industry. For those people, it certainly would end all in tears.

Another way to boost tourism in the north-west would be quickly to upgrade the north-west coast main line to ensure that people who start their holiday in London are able to get to the north-west and other regions more speedily. I must applaud the work done by Regional Railways in the north-west, which has sent me a host of pamphlets advertising schemes in operation to show tourists what is on offer and inform them that they can take the train to various events. The rail companies liaise with the promoters of many special events, and put on special trains so that people can reach their destination in comfort.

One bugbear is that travelling to the north-west from London means using the M6. Although I applaud the expansion of that motorway, people travelling on a Friday or Sunday will find their journey extended by at least an hour as they try to get through Birmingham. I hope that we can direct our attention to freeing that bottleneck. Of course, some tourists want to travel from London by car because they have large families or want to travel beyond the region.

I hope that the Minister will carefully consider my suggestions. I know that he is a doughty fighter for tourists. He knows my area well and recognises the importance of tourism for the north-west, not only the present position but the potential for the future. If we continue our commitment to tourism into the next century, it will be good news for those people looking for work in the north-west and who see their future in that industry.

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