By Ian Duncan

Last updated at 12:06, Tuesday, 05 February 2013

Six Cumbrian MPs will host a special event in the Houses of Parliament this month to celebrate the county and raise its profile.

John Stevenson

Cumbria Day will be held next Wednesday with Cumbria Tourism and Taste Cumbria.

The event is already being widely advertised within Westminster and will give a selection of Cumbrian businesses a chance to market and promote themselves to a wide audience of MPs, Lords and guests from the tourism industry.

The event will be opened by mountaineer, Doug Scott, and follows the campaign to launch an Associate Parliamentary Group (APG) on Cumbrian Tourism, which will have its launch on the same day.

Rory Stewart, the MP for Penrith and the Border, said: “Cumbria Day is one of the most significant events in the calendar this year – raising Cumbria’s profile in Westminster and setting the agenda for the months and years to come. I am so proud and pleased to celebrate Cumbria in Parliament. I think the day will be a brilliant oppor- tunity to show there is more to Cumbria than lakes and mountains.”

John Stevenson, Carlisle’s MP, said: “As chairman of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on food and drinks manufacturing, I am delighted that the food manufacturing sector along with other sectors such as tourism and hospitality will be represented in Parliament to promote Cumbria and our varied economy.”

Sir Tony Cunningham, MP for Workington, added: “We who live in Cumbria know just what a fantastic place it is. Cumbria Day gives a much wider audience the chance to share in part of the world we all know and love.”

Jamie Reed, Copeland’s MP, said: “Bringing these producers to Westminster is a great way to showcase the fantastic range of products that Cumbria has to offer. It gives us an opportunity to showcase some of the very best that the region has to offer.”

Businesses and organisations also set to attend the event include: Derwent Cumberland Pencil Company, New Balance Trainers, Stobart Air, Visit England, the National Trust, English Heritage, the Lake District National Park and Cumbria County Council as well as district councils.

Eric Robson, the chairman of Cumbria Tourism, said “We are delighted and immensely proud that Cumbria and the Lake District is having this opportunity to showcase the world class tourism and food and drink we have here in Cumbria.

“We are particularly grateful for the support of all the Cumbrian MPs who can use this platform to bring a range of issues to the heart of Government in London. Cumbria Tourism has a vital role in co-ordinating the £2bn visitor economy in the county and Cumbria Day is just one snapshot of the range and quality of work that Cumbria Tourism does with private and public partners.”

Mary Houston, food tourism co-ordinator of Taste Cumbria, said: “Food, drink and agriculture is vital to our visitor economy. Recent research showed that £429 million was spent by visitors to Cumbria on food and drink in 2011 – the highest spend of any other tourism activity in the county.”

Suppliers from all over Cumbria will provide samples of Cumbrian delicacies including:

• Cumberland sausage;
• Penrith Fudge;
• Marmalade from Dale-main Marmalade Festival;
• Ales from the Ulverston Brewing Company, Hard Knott Brewery and Coniston Brewery;
• Cheeses from the Lake District Cheese Company and Appleby; Creamery;
• Pies and cakes from the Broughton In Furness Village Bakery;
• Green’s Bakers and Confectioner;
• Grasmere Gingerbread.

First published at 12:03, Tuesday, 05 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk