HC Deb 16 December 1952 vol 509 cc1171-5
10. Miss Burton

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that members of the general public, both in this country and overseas, have found difficulty in making hotel reservations in London at Coronation time; that agencies feel that official bodies have not been helpful; and if he will make a statement on his investigations into the case of the company which had a long list of clients from overseas who wanted accommodation, but whom they found it almost impossible to place, except for those who did not mind paying an exorbitant price, and of which he has received details.

Mr. Mackeson

I am afraid it is inevitable that many people will find it difficult to get hotel accommodation in London during the Coronation, but I think that most agencies would agree that, in the difficult circumstances, official bodies, including the Coronation Accommodation Committee, are doing all that can be done. I have written to the hon. Member about the case mentioned in the third part of the Question. The information I have received does not support the allegation about exorbitant charges.

Miss Burton

It is impossible to get anywhere with the Board of Trade. I sent the hon. Gentleman this information practically a month ago. Does he realise that it concerns an agency which wanted accommodation for 147 people, and that it communicated with 70 hotels but got no satisfaction from any of them? Does he realise that many of these hotels ask on the telephone for a minimum booking of one month, and that the Regent Palace took one booking on the understanding that it was for one month? Will he please look into the matter again.

Mr. Mackeson

I am quite prepared to do what I can to help the hon. Lady, but she must realise that the majority of the London hotels are already booked up. I do not consider that questions like these are helping Britain's reputation overseas.

Sir J. Lucas

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is accommodation at very moderate prices in the country districts round London but that at present there is no one to co-ordinate the offers which are being made? I can send him about 100 offers of accommodation.

Mr. Mackeson

There is at the moment a considerable amount of accommodation available for the Coronation round London, but not in London.

Miss Burton

As the Minister says he is willing to help me, may I ask if he knows that 55 visitors from Antwerp have had to be turned down because they could not take a minimum booking of three weeks? Will he look into the matter and not merely accept the information that is given to him?

Mr. Mackeson

Yes, Sir, I will certainly look into the matter, but my information is that the average booking is for a week.

11. Miss Burton

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the chairman of the Coronation Accommodation Committee has announced that this committee is not concerned with the arrangements proposed by hotels on the processional route regarding rooms or seats from which to view the procession; and, as this is the most sought-after accommodation of all, if he will take steps to ensure that the committee accept such responsibility.

Mr. Mackeson

The business of the committee is to help visitors, particularly those from overseas, to find accommodation in or about London for the Coronation. As my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member on 13th November, the committee will investigate any specific cases brought to their notice where exorbitant prices are alleged to have been asked for accommodation. This will extend to charges for accommodation which include facilities for viewing the procession. I do not think it would be reasonable to go further and ask the committee to concern themselves with the prices of seats to view the procession.

Miss Burton

Might I ask the Minister a very elementary question? Does he realise that if the hotels were to publish a list of their charges those of us who entertain these unworthy suspicions would have them disabused if those charges were in order? Will the Government recommend to hotels that a list of charges during Coronation week should be published?

Mr. Mackeson

I will consider the hon. Lady's remarks, but I would remind her that there are very great differences in the facilities which various hotels give to their visitors.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the Minister aware that by reason of extending the Coronation route quite a large number of British children will be coming to London? Will he investigate the possibility of reopening the air-raid shelter at Clapham, which was able to house large numbers of people in days gone by?

Mr. Mackeson

I will look into that question.

Mr. Lewis

Will the Minister consider asking the various hotel proprietors whether they will give favourable consideration to making part of their accommodation available for disabled ex-Service men and the children of members of the Forces who lost their lives in the last war? Does not he think that that would be a generous action on the part of some of these hoteliers and will he recommend them to do that?

Mr. Mackeson

I am afraid that most of the accommodation has already been let.

16. Mr. A. Roberts

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer the question of en bloc bookings by agencies of hotel accommodation during the Coronation season, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Normanton, for the consideration of the Coronation Accommodation Committee.

Mr. Mackeson

It is the business of travel agents to try to secure accommodation for their customers, and I would have no justification for asking the Coronation Accommodation Committee to investigate cases where an agency tries to secure all the available space in any hotel.

Mr. Roberts

Does the Minister realise that the public view this matter with great apprehension? We are beginning to wonder whether the Coronation is being staged for the benefit of a few unscrupulous people.

Mr. Mackeson

I must point out that any sensible hotel will look after its regular clientele.

40. Mr. J. T. Hall

asked the President of the Board of Trade the recommendations of the Coronation Accommodation Committee concerning the extra charges and minimum period of booking in London hotels during the Coronation week.

Mr. Mackeson

The Committee tell me their investigations suggest that most hotels are not increasing their prices for the Coronation period. This applies to several of the hotels on the route, and even among those who are raising their charges the highest increase is 50 per cent. The average length of booking over the Coronation period is about a week. This seems to be the period for which most visitors wish to stay.

Mr. Hall

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that hotels have combined to impose these conditions on visitors for the Coronation?