Forced inspections could follow failure of rating scheme

Culture secretary Chris Smith said this week that the Government might introduce compulsory inspections to put an end to Fawlty Towers-style hotels.

Speaking at the official launch of the quality standards scheme, a joint venture between the English Tourism Council, the AA and the RAC, Smith said that the new ratings system should lead to more businesses wanting to join. But should it fail in bringing about more inspections, Smith said that tougher measures would be taken.

"We will do whatever is necessary to consign the Fawlty Towers culture to the dustbin of history," he said.

The tourist boards for Scotland and Wales, which opted out of the unified scheme in favour of their own graded system, remain critical of England's unified scheme because they claim it is based on facilities rather than quality.

"In theory we could have a five-star B&B if it was of the highest quality, but in England this would be impossible," said a spokesman for the Wales Tourist Board.

In a joint statement, both tourist boards agreed that they would welcome a UK-wide scheme "on the basis of a rigorous assessment of quality".