§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has held on the establishment of a new quality rating system for hotels. [65987]
§ Janet Anderson[holding answer 18 January 1999]: With the support of this Department, a new harmonised accommodation rating scheme for hotels and guest accommodation was launched by the English Tourist Board, the AA and the RAC last year. Hotels are given a rating of 1 to 5 stars covering the whole visitor experience and Guest Accommodation is rated entirely on quality, using 1 to 5 diamonds. Inspections against the new standards began in January 1998 and the scheme will be launched to customers later this year. It will be included in Guide Books for 2000. The scheme is available through the AA and the RAC throughout the United Kingdom.