§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which business organisations advertise the availability of residential vacancies in hotels, hostels and houses in multiple occupation in tourist areas to attract unemployment benefit claimants; what is the nature of such organisations; and if he will make a statement. [5392]
§ Mr. ClappisonMy Department has not commissioned any research into this topic, but we have received evidence, both from right hon. and hon. Members, and the public, of this practice. The Government have already taken measures to tighten the planning controls on the switch of hotels into hostel use and have announced that we will shortly he bringing forward legislation to improve conditions and management standards in this type of accommodation.
New housebuilding: Kirklees local authority area Number of dwellings Starts completions Private sector Local authority and housing association sectors1 Total Private sector Local authority and housing association sectors1 Total 1974 918 696 1,614 1,138 343 1,481 1975 1,294 389 1,683 1,028 422 1,450 1976 1,150 1,122 2,272 1,143 481 1,624 1977 858 428 1,286 995 644 1,639 1978 1,163 905 2,068 1,146 864 2,010 1979 929 545 1,474 959 492 1,451 1980 666 304 970 823 1,054 1,877 1981 543 118 661 649 487 1,136 1982 681 318 999 593 164 757 1983 619 106 725 681 284 965