§ 36. Captain PLUGGEasked the Minister of Health which of the local authorities in this country have erected or maintain hotels; and what is the policy of his Department with regard to-this matter?
§ Sir K. WOODI am sending my hon. Friend a note of certain special cases in which a local authority has erected or purchased a hotel and subsequently leased it to a tenant. I am not aware of any instance in which a local authority maintains a hotel, and in the absence of quite exceptional circumstances such action is, in my view, not within the powers which are, or ought to be, possessed by local authorities.
§ Captain PLUGGEDoes not the Minister consider that the hotel industry would be discouraged if such hotels were allowed to increase?
§ Sir K. WOODI do not think there is any danger of that.
§ Mr. G. HARDIEDoes the Minister not consider it a wise thing to refrain from encouraging the erection of licensed premises by local authorities until the Royal Commission has issued its report?
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERWould the Minister circulate the information which he is giving to the hon. and gallant Member?
§ Sir K. WOODYes. I may say that there are only two cases in which local authorities have purchased land with a view to the provision of a hotel. It is only in special cases of that kind that the question arises.