Don't know about cruel. The hotels are the same hotels that holidaymakers pay to stay in when they go on holiday. Two in Norfolk were challenged by the council because they have planning permission as holiday accommodation - not as hostels. The council won. I think the main problem is it's taking too long, but part of that is because the claimants drag it out with appeal after appeal, after appeal, when their applications are rejected. So, the question really, is whether we should make it possible for people to pay their own way while the process chugs along.