HC Deb 02 July 1997 vol 297 cc183-4W
Mr. Butterfill

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 527, on VAT and VAT thresholds, what representations he had made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of the tourism industry's concerns. [6148]

Mr. Tom Clarke

I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 25 June 1997, col527. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is aware of the tourism industry's concerns on VAT-related issues.

Mr. Butterfill

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 25 June,Official Report, column 526, if he will introduce a scheme of statutory registration for all businesses supplying bed spaces for tourists; and if he will make a statement.[6149]

Mr. Tom Clarke

Once we have had the opportunity to consider the results of the ETB's Agenda 2000 consultation exercise on this issue, and the industry has commented on the detail of the proposed rating schemes for serviced accommodation, we shall be in a position to draw up proposals for any further steps needed to achieve our objective of raising the quality of accommodation in England.

Mr. Gordon Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to curb the development of unlicensed and unregistered private households offering bed and breakfast facilities to visitors outside the six bed rule. [5951]

Mr. Clarke

I am aware of the concerns which many hoteliers have about the impact of the six person test for non-domestic rates and the six bed-space exemption for fire certification. Although neither of these is the direct responsibility of my Department, the interests of the tourism industry would of course be taken into account in any review of either.

Mr. Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to ensure that individual hotelier and guest house associations are included in any body charged with overseeing the proposed rationalisation of accommodation grading schemes throughout the United Kingdom. [5952]

Mr. Clarke

The ETB, AA and RAC will be consulting widely on the schemes announced in February this year for the rating of serviced accommodation. I hope that individual hotelier and guest-house associations will take the opportunity to feed in their views when the consultation document is published and to participate in the new schemes when they are launched.