Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding the Government provides to public bodies to promote and develop tourism to the Durham Heritage coast.

It is not possible to ascertain the precise figure of funding given to the Durham Heritage coast. Government’s funding for tourism, through VisitBritain and VisitEngland, is not allocated by area but instead focuses on promoting the country as a whole and thematically. Durham Heritage coast has recently benefited from projects funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England.

My colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government also provide support and funding to coastal areas through the Coastal Communities Fund, much of which has a tourism focus.