Anne McIntosh accuses the Government of “neglecting tourism” (The Press, March 30).

This is an odd thing to say when Yorkshire Forward, the Government-funded regional development agency, has just committed £30 million to support Yorkshire’s tourism.

The Yorkshire Tourist Board says “this investment is the most significant ever in the region’s tourism industry”.

Anne complains that spending on tourism administration by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been cut, but I think the Government is right to spend less in London and increase the tourism budget in the regions.

If the Conservatives intend to spend more on tourism they should say so, but so far they keep saying the Government is spending too much and that public expenditure should be cut. Last year, four million tourists visited York, and they spent £364 million pounds in the city (up 77 per cent since 1993). Tourism provides 10,600 York jobs (up 27 per cent).

This is an important part of the local economy, and I want the government to keep the tourism budget devolved to the regions, instead of clawing the money back to London, as Anne suggests.

Hugh Bayley, MP City of York, Holgate Road, York.