§ 73. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the result of his discussions with regard to the present difficulty of obtaining hotel accommodation in the London area and in other main centres of the country; and what steps are to be taken during the current year to increase the accommodation available in order to meet the demands of the large number of foreign visitors who are being encouraged to come to this country, in addition to the thousands who will be attending the Olympic Games.
§ Mr. BelcherI am in close touch with the British Tourist and Holidays Board, who are having discussions with the interests concerned. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Works, has made substantial progress with the de-requisitioning and rehabilitation of hotels in all parts of the country and this, together with the help with equipment given to some 5.000 establishments under the scheme announced on 5th December, 1946, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich (Lady Noel-Buxton) will assist in providing accommodation during the current year. The date fixed for the holding of the Olympic Games here is August, 1948. I am not yet able to make a statement about the arrangements for the accommodation of visitors.