HC Deb 20 June 1984 vol 62 cc159-60W
Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under his proposals for hotel television licence fees, if there will be an upper limit applicable to any single hotel property.

Mr. Hurd

No.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his proposals for hotel television licence fees affect suites.

Mr. Hurd

A suite of rooms would count as a single room.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when precisely he intends to introduce his new proposals for hotel television licensing.

Mr. Hurd

We shall be laying regulations before the House shortly to provide for the new television licensing requirements for hotels, but we do not intend that they will come into force until 1 January 1985.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his new proposals for hotel television licence fees will be applicable to sets in staff accommodation.

Mr. Hurd

No.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his new proposals for hotel television licence fees will apply to sets in store.

Mr. Hurd

No.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he proposes to make for seasonal hotels, open only part of the year, or for hotels which keep open only some of their letting rooms year-round, in so far as they will be affected by his proposals for hotel television licensing.

Mr. Hurd

There are difficulties, but we are considering whether special provision needs to be made for seasonal hotels.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if hotel occupancy rates are a factor he will take into consideration in assessing hotel television licence fees; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

We took into account the fact that hotels are sometimes less than fully occupied in deciding what new licensing requirements for hotels the law should prescribe.

Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements he proposes under his plan for hotel television licence fees to cope with the situation where an unexpired portion of the licence fee is still valid at the date when the new arrangements are due to, commence.

Mr. Hurd

Hoteliers will not be required to take out special hotel licences or pay additional fees until their existing licences expire.