Member

As your Lordships will know, the Bill already recognises the importance of tourism by expressly conferring a power on strategic authorities to encourage and promote visitors. This will ensure that combined authorities and combined county authorities can promote tourism, host events and, in turn, support local businesses. The noble Lord, Lord Parkinson, asked me specifically about the overnight visitor levy which the Government are looking at. Back in November, my department ran a 12-week consultation on establishing an overnight visitor levy. The Government are considering all the responses received and we will publish our response shortly. I am sure that this will include an assessment of how such funding should be spent, but I will check when the results come out.