During the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Questions, James Wild MP challenged the Minister on the Government's higher hospitality and tourism business rates and jobs taxes.
The sectors contribute over £500m to the North West Norfolk's local economy, providing 20% of jobs.
James Wild MP asked:
"Thank you, Mr Speaker, tourism and hospitality contribute over £500 million pounds and a fifth of all jobs in North West Norfolk. So why is the Government hitting those businesses with higher business rates and a jobs tax and a jobs tax?"
The Minister replied:
"Well it would also be good wouldn't it to have an NHS that worked in this country, and it would be good to have an economy that worked in this country, it would be good to have trains that ran on time and a country frankly that functions so that when tourists come to this country, they have a good experience, rather than sitting on a platform waiting for the train that never turns up on time. I am determined to make sure that we get to 50 million visitors to the United Kingdom, at the moment, last year it was just 38 million visitors. If we're going to secure that, we have to have a country that really welcomes tourists to every part of the country and not just London and the South East."
