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| From ticket touts to traffic jams: plans buried in the budget document | From ticket touts to traffic jams: plans buried in the budget document |
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| Companies that breach consumer laws could be fined under proposals welcomed by campaigners against controversial secondary ticketing websites such as Viagogo and StubHub. | Companies that breach consumer laws could be fined under proposals welcomed by campaigners against controversial secondary ticketing websites such as Viagogo and StubHub. |
| In plans buried in the budget document, the government said it would publish a green paper to “examine markets that are not working efficiently or fairly”. | In plans buried in the budget document, the government said it would publish a green paper to “examine markets that are not working efficiently or fairly”. |
| This will include legislation giving the Competition and Markets Authority new powers to ask the civil courts to fine companies that flout laws designed to protect consumers. | This will include legislation giving the Competition and Markets Authority new powers to ask the civil courts to fine companies that flout laws designed to protect consumers. |
| Some secondary ticketing websites have repeatedly breached the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by failing to publish details about tickets they sell, such as seat number and restrictions on resale that could lead to fans being denied entry. | Some secondary ticketing websites have repeatedly breached the Consumer Rights Act 2015 by failing to publish details about tickets they sell, such as seat number and restrictions on resale that could lead to fans being denied entry. |
| FanFair Alliance, which campaigns for reform of ticketing, said: “As the chancellor said in his budget statement, these proposals are designed to rebalance any markets that are not working efficiently or fairly for consumers.” | FanFair Alliance, which campaigns for reform of ticketing, said: “As the chancellor said in his budget statement, these proposals are designed to rebalance any markets that are not working efficiently or fairly for consumers.” |
| “There is plenty of evidence that this applies to the ticket resale market, and we hope these new powers will be used by the CMA and other enforcement bodies at the earliest opportunity.” | “There is plenty of evidence that this applies to the ticket resale market, and we hope these new powers will be used by the CMA and other enforcement bodies at the earliest opportunity.” |
| The plans were revealed a week after Theresa May addressed secondary ticketing at prime minister’s questions, vowing to intervene “where markets are not working in the interests of consumers”. | The plans were revealed a week after Theresa May addressed secondary ticketing at prime minister’s questions, vowing to intervene “where markets are not working in the interests of consumers”. |
| She was responding to Conservative MP Nigel Adams, who asked what the government would do about controversial website Viagogo reselling tickets for a cancer charity gig by Ed Sheeran and charging theatregoers up to £5,000 to see the musical Hamilton. | She was responding to Conservative MP Nigel Adams, who asked what the government would do about controversial website Viagogo reselling tickets for a cancer charity gig by Ed Sheeran and charging theatregoers up to £5,000 to see the musical Hamilton. |
| He said Viagogo’s actions, both revealed by the Guardian, were “unfair and not indicative of a market that works for everyone”, asking the prime minister to “ensure genuine fans are not fleeced by ticket touts and rogues”. Rob Davies | |
| Taxing image rights | Taxing image rights |
| The tax authorities appear to be preparing to tackle image rights – such as those used by footballers – after the government said HMRC was preparing to publish guidelines on the matter. | The tax authorities appear to be preparing to tackle image rights – such as those used by footballers – after the government said HMRC was preparing to publish guidelines on the matter. |
| According to the budget document: “The government is aware that some employers pay image rights in respect of employees under separate contractual arrangements to employment income. HMRC will publish guidelines for employers who make payments of image rights to their employees to improve the clarity of the existing rules.” | |
| HMRC told the Commons public accounts committee in December that 43 players and 12 football clubs in the British leagues, alongside eight agents, were currently under inquiry around the issue of image rights. | HMRC told the Commons public accounts committee in December that 43 players and 12 football clubs in the British leagues, alongside eight agents, were currently under inquiry around the issue of image rights. |
| Chris Sanger, head of tax policy at accountants EY, said: “The taxation of image rights, and particularly the image rights of footballers, were a focus of a public accounts committee hearing in December 2016, with a perception that non-domicile footballers playing for UK clubs were able to receive payments for image rights without paying any UK tax. | Chris Sanger, head of tax policy at accountants EY, said: “The taxation of image rights, and particularly the image rights of footballers, were a focus of a public accounts committee hearing in December 2016, with a perception that non-domicile footballers playing for UK clubs were able to receive payments for image rights without paying any UK tax. |
| “The taxation of such rights is currently based on tax case law, so it is hard to see how the tax treatment can be substantially changed without legislation. But for footballers currently benefitting from the favourable treatment of image rights it looks like they may be in the last few minutes of the match and any added time is unlikely.” | |
| A court ruling in 2000 stated that earnings from image rights could be treated separately from money earned from playing for a British clubs. Tax experts expect HMRC to provide its own interpretation of this court ruling, rather than use new legislation. Staff | A court ruling in 2000 stated that earnings from image rights could be treated separately from money earned from playing for a British clubs. Tax experts expect HMRC to provide its own interpretation of this court ruling, rather than use new legislation. Staff |
| Broadband investment | Broadband investment |
| The government is to invest more than £200m to extend ultra-fast broadband to harder to reach communities and develop next-generation 5G mobile services. | The government is to invest more than £200m to extend ultra-fast broadband to harder to reach communities and develop next-generation 5G mobile services. |
| The investment in what is called full-fibre broadband, termed “gold standard” because it provides speeds from one to 10 gigabits, will involve the government helping to fund its rollout in areas where it has proven uneconomical for commercial companies. | The investment in what is called full-fibre broadband, termed “gold standard” because it provides speeds from one to 10 gigabits, will involve the government helping to fund its rollout in areas where it has proven uneconomical for commercial companies. |
| The initiative will include bringing together local public sector organisations that need better broadband, such as schools, hospitals and council offices, to help create enough demand to reduce costs. Connections from these “anchor” sites will be extended to homes and businesses in areas where there has not been enough demand for private companies to provide full-fibre. | The initiative will include bringing together local public sector organisations that need better broadband, such as schools, hospitals and council offices, to help create enough demand to reduce costs. Connections from these “anchor” sites will be extended to homes and businesses in areas where there has not been enough demand for private companies to provide full-fibre. |
| The government is also offering vouchers that will help subsidise the costs incurred by small businesses in rural areas getting super-fast connections. | The government is also offering vouchers that will help subsidise the costs incurred by small businesses in rural areas getting super-fast connections. |
| “The small business voucher scheme is a smart move,” said Peter Kelly, managing director of Virgin Media Business. “Small and medium-sized enterprises are the engine room of Britain’s economy. The scheme will help entrepreneurs realise their full digital potential, boosting productivity.” | “The small business voucher scheme is a smart move,” said Peter Kelly, managing director of Virgin Media Business. “Small and medium-sized enterprises are the engine room of Britain’s economy. The scheme will help entrepreneurs realise their full digital potential, boosting productivity.” |
| There will also be a £16m invested in an innovation facility to support the development of 5G technology “for the UK to become a world leader in the next wave of mobile technology and services”. | There will also be a £16m invested in an innovation facility to support the development of 5G technology “for the UK to become a world leader in the next wave of mobile technology and services”. |
| The government is also developing commercial options to help improve the often patchy coverage when consumers travelling by road and on the rail network. Mark Sweney | The government is also developing commercial options to help improve the often patchy coverage when consumers travelling by road and on the rail network. Mark Sweney |
| Sorting out bottlenecks | Sorting out bottlenecks |
| Traffic jams will be tackled with £690m for schemes around the country, while increased powers to ease London’s congestion are to be devolved to its mayor. | Traffic jams will be tackled with £690m for schemes around the country, while increased powers to ease London’s congestion are to be devolved to its mayor. |
| The chancellor said he was launching a £690m competition for local authorities in England to address urban congestion and “get local transport networks moving again”. | The chancellor said he was launching a £690m competition for local authorities in England to address urban congestion and “get local transport networks moving again”. |
| Philip Hammond said he had also earmarked £90m for the north and £23m for the Midlands to eradicate pinchpoints on the national road network. The money is from the £220m for pinchpoints announced in the autumn statement, part of a bigger national productivity investment fund ringfenced for spending on infrastructure during this parliament. | Philip Hammond said he had also earmarked £90m for the north and £23m for the Midlands to eradicate pinchpoints on the national road network. The money is from the £220m for pinchpoints announced in the autumn statement, part of a bigger national productivity investment fund ringfenced for spending on infrastructure during this parliament. |
| Details of how the £690m will be allocated are to be announced by the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, this week. The RAC welcomed the money but warned: “We don’t want to see local authorities have to take part in an expensive, protracted process simply to have the funds they need to sort out well known bottlenecks.” | Details of how the £690m will be allocated are to be announced by the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, this week. The RAC welcomed the money but warned: “We don’t want to see local authorities have to take part in an expensive, protracted process simply to have the funds they need to sort out well known bottlenecks.” |
| An agreement published alongside the budget confirmed that more powers would be devolved to London to tackle congestion. Average speeds in the centre of the capital fell to less than 8mph last year, while bus punctuality has declined after years of improvement. It said an independent study would be carried out to identify the reasons for increased congestion, which are thought to include roadworks and increasing numbers of private hire and delivery vehicles. The mayor may be given more powers to charge utility firms and others carrying out disruptive works. | An agreement published alongside the budget confirmed that more powers would be devolved to London to tackle congestion. Average speeds in the centre of the capital fell to less than 8mph last year, while bus punctuality has declined after years of improvement. It said an independent study would be carried out to identify the reasons for increased congestion, which are thought to include roadworks and increasing numbers of private hire and delivery vehicles. The mayor may be given more powers to charge utility firms and others carrying out disruptive works. |
| Claire Haigh, chief executive of Greener Journeys, said: “Congestion is strangling towns and cities across the UK, bringing urban centres to a standstill and costing the economy more than £13bn each year. We are delighted the chancellor has acknowledged the severity of this problem.” | Claire Haigh, chief executive of Greener Journeys, said: “Congestion is strangling towns and cities across the UK, bringing urban centres to a standstill and costing the economy more than £13bn each year. We are delighted the chancellor has acknowledged the severity of this problem.” |
| She said investment in bus priority measures and infrastructure could best ease congestion and reduce roadside emissions, but the government “must have the courage to confront the root cause of the issue – rising car use”. Gwyn Topham | She said investment in bus priority measures and infrastructure could best ease congestion and reduce roadside emissions, but the government “must have the courage to confront the root cause of the issue – rising car use”. Gwyn Topham |