§ Sir J. Edenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the local authority loans scheme to assist hotels to carry out theft` obligations under the Fire Precautions Act is only available to very small hotels at the discretion of the local authority and calls for an interest rate of about 13½ per cent., he will now improve the conditions for such loans.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe loans scheme, which applies to premises providing sleeping accommodation for up to 25 persons, already covers over half the hotels and boardinghouses in the country. The rate of interest is governed by the provisions of the Fire Precautions (Loans) Act 1973, 475W and my right hon. Friend and I are not satisfied that there are sufficient grounds for amending these provisions.