§ Mrs. Betty WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made since December 1999 towards a unified accommodation grading scheme for the whole of the UK. [139268]
§ Janet AndersonResponsibility for tourism policy, including accommodation grading, in the other countries of the United Kingdom now rests with the devolved Administrations. In England a number of new voluntary schemes have been successfully introduced over the last 15 months following extensive research into visitor expectations. Our key priority is to ensure that these schemes, which cover hotels and guest accommodation, holiday parks and self-catering accommodation, make a noticeable impact on increasing accommodation quality.
Since December 1999, we have not made any significant progress towards a unified accommodation grading scheme for the whole of the UK. The hotels and guest accommodation scheme applies across the UK for establishments inspected by the AA and RAC, which inspect to exactly the same standards as the English Tourism Council in Englandthe other national tourist boards each operate different schemes and in Northern Ireland tourism accommodation is subject to statutory regulation (but voluntary classification). The holiday parks scheme was jointly developed by all four countries and has identical standards across the UK and so represents some progress towards a unified approach. The self-catering scheme in England is also broadly similar to those in Scotland and Wales.
143WMinisters have previously looked at the possibility of moving towards a UK-wide accommodation grading scheme but there was no straightforward solution. My own initial discussions confirmed that but I am more than willing to discuss the matter again with my counterparts in Scotland and Wales, should they so wish.