Oral Answers to Questions

Cherilyn Mackrory Excerpts
Thursday 4th June 2020

(3 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Tim Loughton Portrait Tim Loughton (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Con)
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7. What steps his Department is taking to help the tourism sector to reopen safely after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Cherilyn Mackrory Portrait Cherilyn Mackrory (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)
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12. What steps his Department is taking to help the tourism sector to reopen safely after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

James Davies Portrait Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd) (Con)
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13. What steps his Department is taking to help the tourism sector to reopen safely after the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

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Oliver Dowden Portrait Oliver Dowden
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I thank my hon. Friend for that; I would be delighted to visit Worthing. Indeed, I much prefer British holidays to holidays overseas, so I would be delighted to visit his constituency and others. He is absolutely right to highlight the importance of support for the sector. That is why, for example, we have had extensive support with the job retention scheme. I am working closely with my colleague the Chancellor, and we will be looking at further measures. Of course, once the sector is ready to go, I will be at the forefront of championing a campaign for British tourism.

Cherilyn Mackrory Portrait Cherilyn Mackrory
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Residents in Truro and Falmouth understand how hugely important the tourism sector is to Cornwall. It supports one in five jobs in our county. I thank the Government for the £444 million they have put into Cornwall so far to help us through this pandemic. Will my right hon. Friend assure me that, when it is safe to do so, the Government will join me in promoting Cornwall as a world-class tourist destination and ensure that our businesses can get back on their feet as soon as possible?

Oliver Dowden Portrait Oliver Dowden
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I know that Cornwall is a world-class tourist destination. I spent many happy holidays there as a child and, indeed, have taken my own children there on many occasions. As I said, we are hoping to get tourism back as rapidly as possible, and when it is back we will invest extensively in ensuring that we have a major campaign to encourage British people to take British staycations.