§ 57. Mr. Cordleasked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the total financial benefit for the hotel industry as a result of the new scheme of hotel development grants and loans in its first year of operation or for any convenient period.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuI would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 33 of the White Paper on Hotel Development Incentives presented to the House on 21st May.
§ Mr. Blakerasked the President of the Board of Trade how many new hotel beds were provided by the hotel industry in each year from 1953 to 1967, inclusive; and what estimate he has made of the effect of the Government's proposals for grants and loans to hotels on the number of hotel beds which will be provided in future years.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuNo reliable information is available on the number of new hotel beds provided in past years; the number of beds to be provided in future years will depend on the nature and timing of investment decisions and on the industry's response to the Government's proposed incentives.
§ Mr. Blakerasked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for assistance were received under the hotel loans scheme which expired on 31st March, 1968; how many were approved; how many were taken up; and what sum those taken up represented.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuOne hundred and thirty-nine applications were received. Sixteen loans have been offered, of which 11, for amounts totalling £1.7 million, have been accepted. A further 2 offers will be made very shortly.
Of the remaining applications, 71 have been rejected or withdrawn by the applicants and 50 are at various stages of examination.