HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 cc451-2W
Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what estimate she has made of the percentage of the hotel rooms planned to be available in London by the time of the 2012 Olympics which will be of an inspected standard; [135830]

(2) what percentage of funding she estimates will be spent on improving hotel facilities in the event of a successful 2012 London Olympic bid. [135843]

Tessa Jowell

The assessment of the cost and benefit implications of bidding for and staging the Olympics and Paralympic Games in London in 2012 undertaken by Arup in May 2003, drawing on London Tourist Board figures, projected up to 200,000 rooms in hotels/guest houses as potentially available within International Olympic Committee (IOC) visitor travel time requirements of one hour.

Detailed information on accommodation is required by the IOC for the applicant city questionnaire, and London 2012 Ltd., the company set up to prepare the Olympic bid, are undertaking further work to verify and refine these figures. We would look to the LDA, working in partnerships with local authorities, agencies and businesses, to consider what action or investment they might take, including the development of their existing tourism infrastructure, to capture the benefits from the Olympics.

Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to involve(a) arts and (b) cultural organisations in developing the London Olympic Bid for 2012. [135832]

Tessa Jowell

The Olympics are not just about Sport; they will embrace the wider cultural life of the capital and of the country. One of the IOC requirements for the Games is for a Cultural Olympiad, a four year long cultural and educational programme around the Games which can be used to build community support and involvement. The plans for this Olympiad will form a part of the Candidature file which London 2012 Ltd. are preparing to submit to the International Olympic Committee in November 2004 and my Department will ensure that the relevant arts and cultural organisations are involved in their development.

Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of hotel rooms in London were classified as substandard in the last year for which figures are available. [135842]

Mr. Caborn

We are not aware of any such classification. In November 2002, the London Development Agency (LDA) report 'Improving the Quality of Visitor Accommodation in London' (commissioned by DCMS) estimated that 38 per cent. of London's serviced accommodation establishments were covered by the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) schemes for serviced accommodation. The LDA is working hard to encourage further subscription. The report also found that 57 per cent. of hotel rooms in London belonged to branded hotel chains.

This Department is committed to raising accommodation quality through the NQAS schemes, and through supporting skills and training in the industry. To tackle under-performing establishments that are ineligible for NQAS, we are currently piloting a 'Fitness for Purpose' initiative in six local authorities, including the London boroughs of Greenwich and Camden. The aim is to help failing accommodation providers to meet minimum legal requirements on health and safety, food hygiene, trading standards and fire safety.