Seaside Resorts (Hansard, 27 March 2000)

§ 3. Mr. Ivan Henderson (Harwich)
What steps his Department is taking to encourage the regeneration of British seaside resorts; and if he will make a statement. [114853]

§ The Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting (Janet Anderson)
Many resorts have been included in the UK's proposals for the new objective 2 structural funds and assisted areas maps. We have also ensured that the chairmen of the new regional development agencies are aware of the importance of resort regeneration. The English Tourism Council has set up a resorts task force, which is due to report in December with a programme of action to assist resorts with their regeneration strategies.

§ Mr. Henderson
Does my hon. Friend agree that high-quality bathing water is a major factor in encouraging people to visit our seaside resorts? Does she agree that local authorities and water companies should work together closely to make sure that there is an increase in the number of European blue flags flying over this country's bathing beaches?

§ Janet Anderson
My hon. Friend is right, and the Government will do all we can to encourage co-operation between local bodies to achieve as many blue flags as possible. I congratulate my hon. Friend on the fact that his constituency is featured in the tier 3 assisted areas map, and on the fact that Dovercourt—which falls within his constituency—has just received a resort award from the Tidy Britain group.

§ Mr. Dafydd Wigley (Caernarfon)
The quality of water and beaches is central to regenerating our coastline. Will the Minister join me in welcoming last week's figures, which indicated that no fewer than 97 beaches in Wales had been awarded the star award—over a third of the total number of beaches to be granted that status? To ensure that we maximise the number of tourists coming to the UK, will the Minister put pressure on the Treasury to achieve a more realistic value for the pound, so that we can get the benefit of those beaches?

§ Janet Anderson
I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman would not wish to advocate any policy which would return us to the policies of the Conservative party. As he knows, there is no going back to boom and bust. I congratulate all those concerned on achieving that status, and I hope that that encourages other resorts around the country to do the same.

§ Miss Geraldine Smith (Morecambe and Lunesdale)
Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on his decision to remove the 5 annual licence duty on small amusement-with-prizes machines, as that will provide a huge boost to the operators of seaside arcades? Is not that another example of the Government's commitment to seaside resorts, along with assisted area status and the other measures taken by the Government? After years of neglect by the Conservative Administration, these measures are certainly welcomed in seaside resorts.

§ Janet Anderson
I thank my hon. Friend for that timely question. She is quite right to say that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has shown, by his action, that he understands some of the problems facing our seaside resorts. As my hon. Friend rightly says, that is in stark contrast to the record of the Conservative party, which did nothing whatever to help to regenerate our important seaside resorts.

§ Mr. John Greenway (Ryedale)
The seaside resorts are fighting hard to strengthen their appeal, but the Minister will be aware of the understandable concern at the number of asylum seekers being placed in many seaside towns, often in large numbers and without notice. The complete mess that the Government have made of the issue means that asylum seekers already in Britain will remain the responsibility of local authorities this summer.
This is a sensitive issue, and seaside resorts, like all communities, are happy to take their fair share of asylum seekers. Does the Minister, however, agree that local authorities have the right to be consulted? On behalf of seaside tourism, will she press the Home Secretary to ensure that there is always prior consultation, so that the number of asylum seekers placed in seaside towns can be kept to realistic numbers and be fair to all concerned?

§ Janet Anderson
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and not for me, but I can assure him that we are concerned that there should not be an adverse impact on seaside towns, and the Home Office is in continual discussion with the Local Government Association and local authorities about the particular problems that they might be facing.
In recognition of the importance of the matter to the tourist industry, I recently had a meeting with the immigration Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), together with Labour Members representing seaside towns, and she gave us reassurances that we found most welcome.