"They are going to have to rethink their policy because it is illegal," she said.Under regulations which came into effect in February last year, a GP can only write a private prescription for anti-malarial drugs. Four times as many cases of malaria, a potentially life-threatening disease, are reported in south- east London as in the rest of England and Wales. The authority has the backing of local medical and pharmaceutical committees, and pharmacists have been assured that they will be reimbursed if they dispense the drugs.However, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health said yesterday that the authority would be breaking the law if it went ahead. The Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority, says it is vital that its GPs should be able to make the drugs available to the local population, many of whom travel frequently to Africa. A London health authority is on collision course with the Government over its plan to defy the ban on prescribing anti-malarial drugs on NHS prescription. "Yet it is the one consumer sector where information is most critical, because of the non-routine nature of the purchase decision, and the degree of fragmentation."Mr Quarmby added: "I would like to see national tourist information available on a freephone 0800 number.

Also we are only nibbling at the edges of information on tourism on the Internet."But the Costa Brava is not forgotten. A spokeswoman for the Association of British Travel Agents said: "The lure of the foreign holiday remains strong. People are not giving up going abroad; they are taking a break in England as well."t English Tourist Board Annual Report; pounds 15; Mail Order Sales, ETB, Thames Tower, Black's Road, London W6 9EL.Leading article, page 13Where we went and what we spentDestination Trips (millions) Spending (pounds m)West Country 15.8 2,220Southern England 12.4 1,100East Anglia 11.0 960London 10.4 880Yorks & Humberside 10.2 850North West 9.6 1,060Heart of England 9.6 715South East 8.9 725East Midlands 8.0 710Northumbria 3.8 370Cumbria 3.3 410Source: BTA/ETB. It provided 1.7m jobs and accounted for more than 5 per cent of gross domestic product.The figures for 1995 came before the end of the IRA ceasefire, but the ETB are hoping that the recent bombings in London and Manchester will not dent this year's numbers."If there is any impression, it is usually short lived," said Mr Bartlett.The chairman of the ETB, David Quarmby, said there was still much to be done to improve services for visitors."The information revolution has so far passed the tourist industry by," he said. "There is a tremendous amount of new developments, like the Trocadero. There is a theatrical renaissance going on, whatever Trevor Nunn might say. And we have some of the best restaurants in the world."Total turnover of tourism for the UK in 1995 was more than pounds 37bn.

The most popular destination remained the West Country, home of cream teas and sunny beaches.However, the biggest growth was recorded in Northumbria - 25 per cent up. There were also 9.6 million trips to the North West, 10.2 million to Yorkshire and Humberside and 3.3 million to Cumbria."The North has done brilliantly," said Tim Bartlett, the ETB's chief executive. "We're moving away from the idea of lying on a beach sweltering People like to go walking, cycling ... and there is beautiful open countryside in somewhere like Cumbria."The second biggest improvement was in London, which saw 10.4 million trips. "London has become a very fashionable place," said Mr Bartlett. An even bigger increase in holidays lasting four to seven days - 13 per cent - helped raise domestic spending to a record pounds 6.8bn.Seaside holidays are still our favourite, accounting for nearly two in five trips in England and generating pounds 3bn. The hot summer of 1995 lured Britons away from Mediterranean beaches to spend more time and a record amount of money in England.