HC Deb 23 October 1968 vol 770 cc1280-1
49. Sir J. Eden

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the independent advisory committee on whose recommendations are based the terms and conditions governing any loan issued under the experimental hotel loans scheme.

Mr. William Rodgers

The Committee consists at present of six members with experience related to tourism and the hotel trade. With permission, I will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the information:

Composition of the Hotel Loans Advisory Committee

The Chairman of the Committee is Sir Leonard Cooke, O.B.E., J.P., an independent member of the Board of the British Travel Association and a former President of the Co-operative Wholesale Society.

The other members of the Committee are: Mr. D. J. Davies, Chairman of the Wales Tourist Board and member of the Board of the British Travel Association; Mr. E. C. Garner, M.C., Managing Director of Hickie Borman, Grant and Co. Ltd., a member of the Board of the British Travel Association and a former Chairman of the Association of British Travel Agents; Mr. A. W. Hardie, E.R.D., Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board and Deputy Chairman of the Cumbernauld New Town Corporation; Mr. C. R. Hinds Howell, C.A., Senior Partner in Messrs. Singleton, Fabian and Co. (Accountants) and a member of the Council of the British Hotels and Restaurants Association; Professor S. Medlik, Professor of Hotel and Catering Aministration in the University of Surrey and and independent member of the Economic Development Committee for the Hotel and Catering Industry.

50. Sir J. Eden

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement of the progress of the hotel loans scheme, giving the number of applications so far received and the terms and conditions on which loans are to be issued.

Mr. William Rodgers

A total of 139 applications for loans was received before the Scheme was closed for new applications on 31st March of this year. Loans are offered on the terms and conditions recommended by the independent Hotel Loans Advisory Committee as appropriate to each case.

Sir J. Eden

Is it not clear from study of the progress of the scheme that it is not properly geared to the needs of the hotel industry generally, and that there is quite unnecessary delay in the payment of the loans?

Mr. Rodgers

There have been criticisms, but we have been genuinely trying to produce a scheme that meets the industry's needs, which we very fully recognise. The applications have been processed as fast as possible. I hope very much, and I am sure that it is its intention, that the Committee will go ahead and complete its job.

Mr. Nott

Will the Minister do something to simplify the questionnaire which people receive when making application for the loans? A great number of the questions asked in it would never be asked in the private sector if a person were applying for a similar loan from a bank. Cannot the whole procedure be simplified and made more straightforward?

Mr. Rodgers

I will look at the hon. Gentleman's point, because in principle it is very fair. But the closing date for the scheme has been reached, and perhaps we should bear his point in mind in any future proposals we may bring forward.