Are you being swamped by an increasing tide of red tape? Despite the Government’s commitment to reducing the burden, the pace of new regulation shows no signs of abating – much of it necessary but a lot ill-conceived and counter-productive.
TSE works with organisations such as the Tourism Alliance and British Hospitality Association to lobby on behalf of the tourism industry. We are making sure that we take the opportunity of the Government’s current ‘Red Tape Challenge’ to highlight examples of bad regulation that is holding back the industry’s ability to create jobs.
We would welcome your feedback on red tape issues that concern you most.
New Equality Act 2010 Guidelines (update May 2013)
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched a new series of free guides for small businesses on the Equality Act. Three guides are available: Understanding legal definitions of discrimination and unlawful behaviour in the Equality Act; Your role as an employer under the Equality Act; and Your role as a service provider under the Equality Act. Each guide covers what behaviour is unlawful under the legislation and is designed for businesses that don't have in-house HR resources. Click here - New Equality Act 2010 guides
Get Behind the VAT Campaign (update April 2013)
View our dedicated page.
Glimmer of Hope for Overseas Guest Records
The latest regulatory burden to come under the spotlight is the Immigration (Hotel Records) Order 1972 which requires all accommodation providers to collect lengthy information from non British, Irish or Commonwealth guests on arrival and departure. The Order was a child of the Cold War and it has long been argued it is now redundant, of no value and should be repealed. Our partners, the Tourism Alliance, believe that the Home Office is now prepared to consider change. With this in mind, in recent weeks TSE has been consulting with a selection of member accommodation providers to obtain information about how the Order is being complied with in practice. We have fed the findings to the Tourism Alliance who met Home Office Officials last week. The response to the idea of repealing the Order was very positive and officials are now working up detailed proposals for minister approval. We will ensure that members are informed of the outcome.
Business Rates Increase (update April 2013)
Uniform Business Rates rise this month by 2.6% in line with September’s retail price index to 46.2 pence in the pound. Larger properties with a rateable value greater than £17,999 will have to pay an additional 0.9p supplement. For more information on the changes to UBR and the postponement of the 2015 revaluation, see the latest guidance from the government valuation office.
Red Tape Issues (update February 2013)
Bed Taxes On The Cards? - Local tourism or bed taxes were back on the agenda again on the 29th January 2013 with a Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Committee report recommending powers for councils in England to impose such taxes. In a press article, the Committee Chairman, Graham Allen MP, suggested that ‘setting a tourist tax is common in much of Europe’. A flurry of media activity followed with the overwhelming majority of councillors and local MPs from key destinations rejecting the idea. The expectation is that this particular recommendation will be taken no further.
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