Coastal Towns (Government Policy)

Christopher Chope Excerpts

Tuesday 20th July 2010 Westminster Hall

[Bill Esterson]

As a man of Kent, I am familiar with Thanet and the problems in Ramsgate that the hon. Lady described well. I understand her point, but cutting money is not the way to deal with the problem. Other hon. Members have called for cross-departmental co-operation, but pulling the plug disproportionately—that is what is on the table at the moment—will not solve the problem. I agree that money could be better spent and that lessons could be learned from the past, but I hope the hon. Lady agrees that we need continued investment, not cuts at a time when the private sector—

[Mr Christopher Chope (in the Chair)]

Order. I must cut the hon. Gentleman off.

[Laura Sandys]

I understand the hon. Gentleman’s point, but in many ways the money that was invested in our area was an incentive for deprivation, not aspiration. We need a different approach.

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[Laura Sandys]

My concern is specifically with housing stock. My constituency has enough housing, but it is in an incredibly bad state and there are a lot of empty properties that need to be brought back into the housing stock. One would not want to keep a dog in some of the flats I have been into. The neglect and lack of responsibility that some—not all—landlords have shown towards their tenants is not acceptable. More houses need to be built, but I would like to see a lot of empty houses brought back into the housing stock in a safe and adequate condition.

On the upside, there are great opportunities. As my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness has discussed during this debate and at many conferences, tourism is one of the most effective ways of stimulating small businesses and ensuring a greater number of start-ups, and not just specifically tourist-sector businesses. Tourism brings in foreign currency, spurs new businesses in associated companies and supports our high streets. It offers our less-skilled work force more jobs. Therefore, we must ensure that the domestic tourism agenda and the small business sector are seen as important drivers of the recovery that we badly need in our coastal towns.

I am delighted that following a parliamentary question, the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr Prisk)—he was in the Chamber recently—has agreed to meet a delegation of MPs and to focus on how we can boost the tourism sector. We need a clear set of policies to accommodate the vulnerabilities of our seaside towns. I believe that the coalition Government will put those policies in place and ensure that that we are not left, yet again, at the end of the line.

[Mr Christopher Chope (in the Chair)]

Before I call the next speaker, if we are to fit in everybody who wishes to speak, contributions need not be longer than five minutes—perhaps less.

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[Several hon. Members]

rose—

[Mr Christopher Chope (in the Chair)]

Order. We have now completed the list of speakers who gave notice to Mr Speaker in advance. We have about 15 minutes, and about six Members are still seeking to catch my eye.