SEASONALITY
62. The seasonality of tourism in England is widely
recognised. Tourism in coastal resorts is particularly limited
to the summer months, given the preference of visitors for warmer
weather for outdoor activities. BRADA stated in its publication
UK Seaside Resorts that in 1996, for instance, "51%
of all domestic holiday spending took place between July and September."[174]
A large number of our witnesses pointed out that such seasonality
resulted in a high proportion of temporary and short-term employment
in coastal towns.[175]
63. In contrast to the evidence provided by our witnesses
on seasonality for coastal towns, Jobcentre Plus initially downplayed
the significance of seasonality as an issue in coastal towns.
It stated that seasonality was less significant than it had been
in the past. It acknowledged that this was an issue in some coastal
towns but stressed, "the vast bulk of employment tends not
to be associated with tourism".[176]
The DWP did not comment specifically on the seasonality of employment
in its original written submission. It did, however, comment
on levels of temporary employmenta category that covers
seasonal employment under this definition.[177]
It stated that there was no marked difference between coastal
and non-coastal areas in levels of temporary employment and that
there was "little evidence that employment in coastal towns
is particularly concentrated in temporary or self-employment"
and "no prevalence of temporary employment in coastal towns".[178]
64. We were not satisfied with this response, which
could be viewed as misleading, and therefore requested further
details. DWP provided statistics subsequently demonstrating that
seasonal work in coastal towns was more than double that found
in non-coastal towns.[179]
This data establishes that there is a significantly higher level
of seasonal employment in coastal towns and that this characteristic
is not solely historic but rather a significant feature of employment
patterns in coastal towns today.[180]
This conclusion, based upon the statistical evidence, appears
to be at odds with the views expressed and impression left after
receiving evidence from Jobcentre Plus and the original DWP evidence.
We find it surprising that the significance of seasonal work
in coastal towns was not recognised by the Department of Work
and Pensions, and only became apparent as a result of further
investigation by the Committee.
65. The seasonal nature of tourism has economic and
social consequences, particularly for traditional seaside resorts.
One of the suggested consequences is higher unemployment levels
during the winter months. In the Seaside Economy report
it was stated "it has long been known that there is a problem
of seasonal unemployment in seaside towns".[181]
Caradon District Council provided a clear example: it told us
"there are still around twice as many claimants in Looe in
the winter as there are in the summer".[182]
Seasonal unemployment may also contribute to a sense of social
isolation. The Foyer Federation argued that the winter closure
of facilities and services used by young people had an adverse
effect: "without anything to do, young people can get involved
in negative behaviourdrug and alcohol misuse".[183]
66. Many witnesses commented on the low-skill, low-wage
and often part-time nature of employment in many coastal towns.
The part-time nature of employment is linked to the nature of
the tourism sector: indeed, "approximately 40% of the hotels
and restaurants sector workforce in the UK as a whole works part-time".[184]
Professor Fothergill stated that "the disproportionate share
of the overall jobs in seaside towns are part-time, and that this
obviously raises worries about what the implications are for household
incomes and so on".[185]
The Minister for State, Industry and the Regions, Department for
Trade and Industry, Rt Hon Margaret Hodge stated that "If
you talk about a feature of a coastal town, the low-wage, low-income,
low-skill, seasonal employment is a feature".[186]
67. The seasonality of the economy in coastal
towns presents economic and social challenges that need to be
considered by national and local policy-makers. The Department
of Work and Pensions' failure to highlight the significance of
seasonality in its original evidence is suggestive of a wider
lack of understanding in Government of the specific employment
patterns in many coastal towns and the challenges associated with
those patterns.
EDUCATION
68. Evidence highlighted the low levels of aspiration
and educational attainment by young people in some coastal communities,
but this is by no means a universal pattern, with some coastal
towns showing high levels of educational achievement. For example,
in Hastings the proportion of school leavers with GCSEs grades
A to C in 2003-04 was 14.9% below the national average.[187]
The Learning and Skills Council stated that the issue of low attainment
levels and aspirations "certainly applies to coastal areas"
but were no more prevalent than in inner cities or other areas
with a high rate of deprivation".[188]
69. The educational profile of coastal towns is linked
to the nature of their economy and environment. The Coastal Academy
argued that many young people in coastal towns have low aspirations
"by virtue of career and job opportunities not being available
in their home area".[189]
The Foyer Federation stated that the poor provision and high cost
of public transport acted as barriers to young people staying
on in education and attending college in some coastal areas.[190]
The Learning and Skills Council agreed that this was a factor
and that "in any periphery area or rural area there is always
an issue of access to education".[191]
Some witnesses pointed out that those young people in coastal
towns who did attain higher level qualifications often left to
pursue higher education elsewhere and did not return, reinforcing
the low-skill levels in coastal towns.[192]
70. The New Economics Foundation argued that it was
important to break the link between, on the one hand, low aspirations
and low educational attainment and, on the other, a low-wage economy
which currently serve to reinforce one another.[193]
During our visit to Margate and Hastings local people stressed
the importance of raising educational attainment levels to facilitate
local regeneration. They argued that this would make the area
more attractive to private sector investors and employers.[194]
Others stressed the importance in building stronger links between
the education and business sectors to promote the development
of vocational education.[195]
71. The evidence suggests that a high number of
young people in some coastal communities have low educational
attainment levels and low aspirations. While we accept that raising
educational achievement and career aspirations is an important
element in local regeneration, we have no evidence to convince
us that the experience of coastal communities in this regard is
significantly different from other areas, such as inner cities
or areas of deprivation, where the aspirations of young people
and their level of educational attainment are lower than the national
average. Any national initiatives to increase educational attainment
levels in targeted geographical areas, should ensure that coastal
communities with low attainment levels are included.
126 Ev 69, 117,
HC 1023-II and Margate Visit Note, p2. See also Coalfield Communities,
HC 44-I of Session 2003-04, Fourth Report of the Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and
the Regions Committee. Back
127
The Seaside Economy, p. 5 Back
128
Q 89 Back
129
Ev 100. See Table 1: Employment Rates in Coastal Towns Back
130
Ev 100. See Table 1: Employment Rates in Coastal Towns Back
131
Q 361 Back
132
Ev 100. See Table 1: Employment Rates in Coastal Towns Back
133
See also Ev 122, HC 1023-II Back
134
Ev 47, 96,100, HC 1023-II Back
135
Ev 124, HC 1023-II Back
136
The Seaside Economy, p. 42 Back
137
Ev 123. See Table 3: Percentage of Working Age Population on Benefit
- May 97 & February 06 Back
138
Ev 123. See Table 2: Actual and Percentage Changes in Working
Age Benefit Claimants between May 1997 and Feb 2006 Back
139
Ev 98 Back
140
Ev 123 Back
141
Ev 123 Back
142
Ev 123 Back
143
The Seaside Economy, p 39 Back
144
Q 100 Back
145
Ev 101 Back
146
Ev 101 Back
147
Q 288 Back
148
Ev 106-107. The four sectors with variables of more than 2% between
coastal towns and the English average are; tourism, health and
social care, real estate, renting, business activities, and manufacturing.
Back
149
Q 93 Back
150
Ev 93, HC 1023-II Back
151
Ev 147, 91, HC 1023-II Back
152
Ev 92, HC 1023-II Back
153
Ev 106-107 Back
154
Ev 110 Back
155
VisitBritain Press Release VB42/06 p 1. These destinations are
Blackpool, Scarborough, Isle of Wight, Skegness, Bournemouth,
Great Yarmouth, Brighton and Hove, and Torquay. Back
156
Ev 110-112 Back
157
Ev 110-112 Back
158
Ev 110-112 Back
159
Ev 110-112 Back
160
Ev 110-112 Back
161
Q 185 Back
162
Q 148 Back
163
National Coastal Futures Symposium: The Report, 18th -
19th July 2006, Royal Renaissance Hotel Skegness, October 2006.
Background paper from the Lincolnshire Coastal Action Zone, p
17 Back
164
Q 116, See also Q 187 Back
165
A Committee visit to Margate,
Whitstable and Hastings took place on 18 October 2006. Back
166
Q 192 Back
167
Annex A Back
168
Q 485 Back
169
Welsh Coastal Tourism Strategy: Draft Final Strategy,
Welsh Assembly Government, January 2006 (consultation period ends
March 2007) http://new.wales.gov.uk/docrepos/40382/4038231141/403821124154/1156781/1156839/strategy.doc?lang=en Back
170
Ev 18, 6, 65, 103, 121, HC 1023-II Back
171
National Coastal Futures Symposium: The Report, 18th -
19th July 2006, Royal Renaissance Hotel Skegness, October 2006.
Background paper from the Lincolnshire Coastal Action Zone Back
172
Q 105 Back
173
The Seaside Economy, p. 107 Back
174
UK seaside resorts: behind the façade, BRADA (formerly
the British Resorts Association), 2000. Back
175
Ev 1, 4, 5, 11, 14, 16, 23, 30, 34, 36, 62, 67, 80, 90, 93, 140,
159, 160, 166, HC 1023-II Back
176
Q 353 Back
177
Ev 100 Back
178
Ev 94 Back
179
Seasonal employment in coastal towns 2005 was 15% in comparison
the English average of 6%. Back
180
Q 353 Back
181 The
Seaside Economy, p 20 Back
182
Ev 11, HC 1023-II Back
183
Q 330.See also Annex B
and Annex D Back
184
UK seaside resorts: behind the façade, BRADA (formerly
the British Resorts Association), 2000 Back
185
Q 99 Back
186
Q 447 Back
187
Ev 23, HC 1023-II Back
188
Q 410-411 Back
189
Ev 1, HC 1023-II Back
190
Ev 90 Back
191
Q 405 Back
192
Ev 17, 37, 131, 171, HC 1023-II. See also para 19 Back
193
Ev 23, HC 1023-II Back
194
Annex B, Annex D Back
195
Ev 68, 131, HC 1023-II Back