In the 30th April issue of Caterer and Hotelkeeper we'll be running a pre election special in which we'll detail what each of the main parties will do for the industry. We'll examine their policies and what their implimentation will mean.
If you've got any questions or concerns ahead of the election that you'd like us to raise post them here and we'll do our best to put them to the parties.
We'll be presenting the results in Caterer but I'll also post any responses here as and when we get them.
So, what would you like to know?
My question would be about interest rates - at present low but with the potential to destroy businesses if they go too high. How confident are each of the main parties in their ability to control the national debt so that interest rates can remain low?
Peter H
Good question. I think we'll struggle to pin them down on that one but I'm sure we can get some rough idea of how they're planning to keep control of interest rates. When we get some info I'll pop it up.
This is what the BHA is looking for from the next Government:
1) Offer a commitment to take hospitality and tourism seriously and for the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) to communicate more effectively with other Government departments (provided the DCMS survives the election).
2) Change capital allowances to make them better-suited to hotel development, following the scrapping of the Hotel Buildings Allowance and the introduction of an 'unsatisfactory' new capital allowances regime. Introduce 'Tourist Growth Zones' in resorts with tax incentives to aid regeneration.
3) Develop a more consistent approach to training and education with tax incentives to encourage businesses to train their staff.
4) Recognise the special nature of tourism marketing funding. The BHA argues that although public spending is likely to be cut back, the outlay for tourism marketing is "more than repaid" in taxes from additional visitors.
5) Support jobs by doing away with National Insurance increases planned for 2011, which are likely to hit an industry which, in some parts, already has payroll costs that exceed 40% of revenue.
6) A more pragmatic approach from the Food Standards Agency and European Commission towards nutrition and other information on menus.
7) Resist the temptation to 'punish' hotels and restaurants for alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and health problems through "an almost constant tinkering" with licensing law in England, Scotland and Wales.
I would be tempted to ask what more the political parties can do to lessen the impact that the recently introduced Digital Economy Act will have on operators who offer free wifi. As it stands, there's a very real risk that hotels, pubs and cafes could have their connection cut off because just one unscrupulous customer (who will be impossible to track) has infringed copyright by downloading something illegally. More in Caterer on this on 16 April.
Also, what are the plans for VAT? Labour won't confirm that they won't increase it above 17.5%, and the Tories say they have "no plans" to increase it, which isn't exactly the same as pledging not to.
No government will take hospitality more seriously until it learns to speak with one voice. Too many associations, too little oomph ...
I just spotted this spoof job description for the incoming PM.
We're also looking for ideas of initiatives you'd like to see in a manifesto. Nothing's off limits! Let us know your wildest hospitality dreams...