A report by a cross-party tourism select committee has raised concerns about the merger of the British Tourist Authority (BTA) and the English Tourism Council (ETC) to form a single body responsible for tourism in England.

The report, The Structure and Strategy for Supporting Tourism, casts doubt on whether the new body is workable: 'We would like to believe that theses arrangements will improve the promotion of tourism,' says the report. 'What we do believe is that there is a danger of further confusion rather than less, that the promotion of tourism in England will have even less cohesion than before.'

While the committee welcomes the reinstatement of the marketing function for England, it says England needs its own national tourism board to adequately promote and support tourism.

It believes the merger will encourage competition rather than co-operation between Scotland, England and Wales, and highlights concerns outside England about the alleged favouritism by the BTA towards England: 'We feel it would make better sense for England to have a distinct national board with a marketing function and for each national tourist board in Britain to relate to the BTA in the same way.'

Funding is another concern: 'The amount of money available to the sector, especially in England, from government is not sufficient. The new arrangement seems to be just a more complicated way of cutting the same funding cake.'

Finally the report criticises the government's laissez faire approach to the industry: 'It's time the government gave tourism the priority it deserves'. Details: +44 (0)20 7219 6188 or www.parliament.uk