§ Mr. Gregoryasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what registration and classification schemes operate in respect of hotels in each European Community state and their separate conditions; what representations he has received for a statutory scheme in Great Britain since 1980; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norman LamontMy Department has no comprehensive information about hotel registration and classification schemes operating in other EC countries. However, research carried out last year by the English Tourist Board indicated that all other EC countries operated some form of compulsory hotel registration and licensing which in some cases also involved hotel classification.
I receive frequent representations both for and against statutory hotel registration and the question was last considered in the course of the Government's recent tourism review. Our conclusion was that registration could involve undesirable bureaucracy and expense. However, we have asked the ETB in consultation with the other tourist boards and interested bodies, to examine ways of strengthening its voluntary registration scheme to make it a more effective weapon against inadequate standards. The board's report is expected later in the year.