§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement about the progress of the English Tourism Council's stepping stones scheme. [46914]
§ Dr. HowellsThe stepping stones scheme is currently in its third year of operation and eight local authority districts are already participating, exceeding the target of six by the end of 2002–03. Of these eight participating districts, five (including North Devon) are in the south-west region where over 600 assessments have taken place to date.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the new grading schemes for hotels, guest accommodation, caravan parks and self-catering accommodation introduced by the English Tourism Council are being evaluated; and if she will make a statement. [46915]
§ Dr. HowellsThe English Tourism Council (ETC) evaluates the quality assurance schemes it has introduced in a number of ways: standards are reviewed periodically in consultation with the industry and consumers; statistics on numbers participating are compiled monthly; quarterly feedback is sought from the 22,000 participants and from the quality assessors; and the industry is also asked three times a year for its views on the assessment process. In addition, Regional Tourist Boards monitor comments and complaints about accommodation in their regions; and the ETC has commenced market research this year on changing public perceptions of accommodation quality.
321WThe Department for Culture Media and Sport has highlighted accommodation quality as one of the most important areas of work for the ETC, who must report under its funding agreement on increased participation in the schemes, which should impact ultimately on occupancy levels.