The government is failing to tackle the growing social and economic problems faced by England's coastal towns, MPs have said.

A report by the communities and local government committee said a policy vacuum on Britain's coastal towns means that some of the country's poorest areas are being neglected.

Many coastal communities had poor housing, and influxes of elderly people put pressure on social services. Isolation, because of reduced connections to the rest of Britain, often put coastal communities on the back foot by reducing the help that industry could make to the local economy.

In some of the poorest resorts, the MPs added, the economy must develop beyond the low-wage, seasonal tourism trade.

The report notes that since 1997 the number of people in Britain claiming incapacity benefit has risen by 2.2%, but in coastal towns this increase is as high as 12.3%. The report criticises the Department of Work and Pensions' for failure to draw attention to the significantly higher claimant rate in these areas.

Meanwhile, increased numbers of people buying second homes had made housing less affordable for existing residents.

The committee's chair, Labour MP Phyllis Starkey, said: "We were disappointed to find that the government has conducted no research into the situation of coastal towns in recent years, nor did we receive any evidence demonstrating that there was any action or liaison between departments specifically on coastal towns."

She added that ministers must "develop an understanding of the particular issues facing these communities".

But a Department for Communities and Local Government spokesperson insisted that the government has already done "a huge amount" to support coastal towns.

"Since 1997 the government has made regeneration a priority, with more than £10 billion for economic development and regeneration initiatives, which includes coastal areas," the spokesperson said.

"In addition, coastal towns have benefited from the strong economy and buoyant labour market with a rise in employment growth of 12% over the last decade, compared to 7% for the UK as a whole.

"We will be considering what more the government can do through the Treasury review of sub-national economic development," the spokesperson added.