To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which business organisations advertise the availability of residential vacancies in hotels, hostels and houses in multiple occupation in tourist areas to attract unemployment benefit claimants; what is the nature of such organisations; and if he will make a statement. [5392]

My Department has not commissioned any research into this topic, but we have received evidence, both from right hon. and hon. Members, and the public, of this practice. The Government have already taken measures to tighten the planning controls on the switch of hotels into hostel use and have announced that we will shortly he bringing forward legislation to improve conditions and management standards in this type of accommodation.