Latest news with #RobMason
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cruise Scotland warns government against ‘damaging' levy proposal
The Scottish cruise industry has lashed out at the government's proposals to introduce a cruise ship levy over fears it would deter cruises from visiting its ports. The Scottish Government announced earlier this year that it is considering a proposal to allow local authorities to create a visitor levy on cruise ships docking at its ports. During the consultation, Cruise Scotland, a membership-based marketing organisation that represents key cruise industry players, issued a warning to the Scottish Government that the levy could damage the sector. The organisation expressed its concern in its formal submission to the government consultation on implementing a cruise ship levy, saying that cruises will become discouraged from visiting Scottish ports. 'Scotland must decide whether it wants to attract or deter a sector that delivers over £130m annually to the national economy and sustains jobs in some of the most remote and economically vulnerable communities,' Rob Mason, chair of Cruise Scotland, said. Mr Mason also claimed that if the levy was mishandled, it could result in job losses, cause a slump in local business growth and disrupt a tourism model that benefits communities. Cruise Scotland said that the government's plans are so far too ambiguous, stating that prolonged uncertainty regarding the levy is 'damaging' as cruise operators cannot plan accordingly. The group also warned against creating devolved powers for individual councils to implement the levy, as it claimed this would create competition between areas and would require port authorities to function as tax collectors. 'We must remember that this is a movable market that does not need to come to Scotland, despite all we have to offer, and neighbouring regions in the North Atlantic and Northern Europe are strongly positioned to benefit from any displacement,' Mr Mason added. While the chair said Cruise Scotland 'fully acknowledges' the need for targeted investment, he called upon the government to be more transparent in its decisions around the levy and asked for 'close collaboration' with the industry. The organisation said it remains engaged in discussions with policymakers. Cruise Scotland says that 1.1 million passengers visited Scottish ports in 2024, contributing over £130 million to local businesses and communities. Kirsty Hutchison, Cruise Scotland's market development manager, said that this number could see a drop if a levy were implemented. 'Introducing a levy could send the wrong signal to cruise operators at a time when Scotland is successfully growing its reputation as a responsible and attractive destination,' Ms Hutchinson said. 'The evidence from other markets suggests that a levy risks reducing visitor numbers, along with the significant revenue and opportunity they bring.' The levy has received support in other areas. The Scottish Greens are in favour of the potential to cut climate emissions, while the Orkney Islands Council said it would welcome the revenue it would generate for the communities. The consultation on the levy has now closed, and responses will be analysed over the summer to inform ministers the next steps they can take.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Cruise Scotland warns government against ‘damaging' levy proposal
The Scottish cruise industry has lashed out at the government's proposals to introduce a cruise ship levy over fears it would deter cruises from visiting its ports. The Scottish Government announced earlier this year that it is considering a proposal to allow local authorities to create a visitor levy on cruise ships docking at its ports. During the consultation, Cruise Scotland, a membership-based marketing organisation that represents key cruise industry players, issued a warning to the Scottish Government that the levy could damage the sector. The organisation expressed its concern in its formal submission to the government consultation on implementing a cruise ship levy, saying that cruises will become discouraged from visiting Scottish ports. 'Scotland must decide whether it wants to attract or deter a sector that delivers over £130m annually to the national economy and sustains jobs in some of the most remote and economically vulnerable communities,' Rob Mason, chair of Cruise Scotland, said. Mr Mason also claimed that if the levy was mishandled, it could result in job losses, cause a slump in local business growth and disrupt a tourism model that benefits communities. Cruise Scotland said that the government's plans are so far too ambiguous, stating that prolonged uncertainty regarding the levy is 'damaging' as cruise operators cannot plan accordingly. The group also warned against creating devolved powers for individual councils to implement the levy, as it claimed this would create competition between areas and would require port authorities to function as tax collectors. 'We must remember that this is a movable market that does not need to come to Scotland, despite all we have to offer, and neighbouring regions in the North Atlantic and Northern Europe are strongly positioned to benefit from any displacement,' Mr Mason added. While the chair said Cruise Scotland 'fully acknowledges' the need for targeted investment, he called upon the government to be more transparent in its decisions around the levy and asked for 'close collaboration' with the industry. The organisation said it remains engaged in discussions with policymakers. Cruise Scotland says that 1.1 million passengers visited Scottish ports in 2024, contributing over £130 million to local businesses and communities. Kirsty Hutchison, Cruise Scotland's market development manager, said that this number could see a drop if a levy were implemented. 'Introducing a levy could send the wrong signal to cruise operators at a time when Scotland is successfully growing its reputation as a responsible and attractive destination,' Ms Hutchinson said. 'The evidence from other markets suggests that a levy risks reducing visitor numbers, along with the significant revenue and opportunity they bring.' The levy has received support in other areas. The Scottish Greens are in favour of the potential to cut climate emissions, while the Orkney Islands Council said it would welcome the revenue it would generate for the communities. The consultation on the levy has now closed, and responses will be analysed over the summer to inform ministers the next steps they can take.
Finextra
2 days ago
- Business
- Finextra
A third of EMEA-based firms are already using AI for compliance
A third of EMEA firms are already using AI in compliance, and 71.4% plan to introduce it in the next year – with EMEA firms also much less likely to ban communications like WhatsApp for business use 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. Global Relay, a leading provider of end-to-end compliance solutions for highly regulated industries, has shared the findings of its third annual report into the major compliance challenges facing financial firms. Based on insights from hundreds of compliance and surveillance professionals worldwide, the Industry Insights: Compliant Communications Report 2025 leverages this data to track key compliance trends, with findings including: A third of EMEA-based firms are already using AI for compliance – and for those that aren't yet, 71.4% intend to introduce it in the next year, compared to only 43.7% of North American firms Just 31.7% of EMEA-based respondents think that banning certain communications channels is an effective compliance solution, compared to the 50.6% of NA respondents who believe they work EMEA-based firms are much more likely to enable and monitor all communications channels, with over half (52.4%) of firms doing so compared to just 31.2% of NA firms There has been a considerable drop in respondents struggling to get staff to stick to compliance policies, down to just 29.5% compared to 61.5% in 2023 EMEA-based firms are leading the way with AI adoption for compliance use cases, coming as little surprise given that the EU AI Act provides a world-first regulatory guardrail for AI development. Coupled with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)'s recent commitments to support AI innovation, the U.K. and Europe are presenting firms with a permissive environment when it comes to AI. 'Recent technological advances in AI are moving the needle quickly when it comes to adoption, although AI is still generally perceived as difficult, expensive, and only marginally effective for risk detection use cases,' explains Don McElligott, Vice President, Compliance Supervision, Global Relay. 'It will be very interesting to see if adoption numbers increase as organizations realize the value and availability of effective AI solutions.' Given the tempo of regulatory enforcements and punitive fines for off-channel communications over the last four years in the U.S., it's unsurprising that NA firms are taking a more cautious approach to communications compliance and are more likely to believe that banning channels is an effective solution that eliminates potential risk and avoids regulatory scrutiny entirely. 'It's very interesting to see that a surprisingly high number of firms are enabling the use of communications channels like WhatsApp, as conventional wisdom suggests the majority prohibit it,' says Rob Mason, Director, Regulatory Intelligence at Global Relay. 'Since our 2023 report, we have seen the dial shift away from channel bans and towards communicating compliantly throughout the finance industry, and firms, their employees, and even regulators will no doubt continue to see the benefits of a more permissive, collaborative compliance environment.' The Industry Insights: Compliant Communication Report series provides an annual snapshot of the changing face of compliance, combining insight from industry professionals and compliance experts for a data-driven overview of how compliance challenges are evolving, and how the industry is responding.
Telegraph
07-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
A time to reflect on the bravery and resolve that brought victory in 1945
SIR – Like Allison Pearson, I felt a sense of melancholy during the VE Day parade last Monday ('Britain is not worthy of the sacrifice our soldiers made 80 years ago', Comment, May 7). It was not just the sparser-than-usual crowds, but also the eerie feeling that we haven't learnt the lessons of history. As David Blair wrote ('Western leaders are wilfully squandering the triumph of VE Day', Comment, May 5), the only lesson worth learning is that we must be eternally vigilant. After the horrors of the Second World War, what use is all this impressive pageantry, if we are too ill-equipped to deter our enemies, and lack the resolve to defend the values that those brave veterans fought for? Stan Labovitch Windsor, Berkshire SIR – As we celebrate the end of the Second World War in Europe, I note that we hear daily of one conflict or another raging somewhere in the world – Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Hamas, India and Pakistan. The lessons from history seem never to find their way to the subsequent generations of political leaders. Rob Mason Nailsea, Somerset SIR – On this anniversary of VE Day, I was reminded of my mother's contribution to our street party celebrations 80 years ago. She made lots of blancmanges in red, white and blue for all the tables. However, as food colouring was not available, I was sent out to buy red and blue inks. The blancmanges were a great success. Rosemary Cogswell Keston, Kent SIR – My memories of the war are still vivid. As an eight-year-old, I was taken by my mother to Beckenham Junction to see the trains carrying soldiers who had been evacuated from Dunkirk. As the carriages slowed down, people threw cigarettes and sweets through the windows for them. Michael Gates Eastbourne, East Sussex SIR – We certainly danced in the streets on VE day: no more bombs or fear, though we did not let off fireworks or light bonfires 'just in case'. I will always remember the songs we sang. But we did not forget our boys who were still in Japanese hands, though none of us knew the full horror of what they experienced until they returned home. In both instances, rejoicing and sadness were mixed. Patricia F G Nidd Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire SIR – Welcome though the celebrations for VE Day are, I feel that it is a great shame that VJ Day is not remembered in the same way. The end of the war in Europe was not the end of the Second World War. The South-East Asia campaign was largely ignored, hence Lord Mountbatten's reference to the Forgotten Army, which was still fighting. My father was with the RAF in Burma and didn't return home until late in 1946, long after all the celebrations had ceased. We will remember them on August 15 this year, but will there be the same level of national recognition 80 years on? K Turfrey Kenilworth, Warwickshire SIR – As part of the celebrations, I decided to look for some additional Union flags to decorate our street. Alas, none was to be found – only birthday and Pride flags were on display. When did it become so hard to buy our national flag? Even when you do find one, it often comes with a Made in China label. Bobby Angelov Falmouth, Cornwall SIR – Watching the VE Day parade on Monday, I was struck by how lucky we are with our Royal family. They carry out their duties with dignity and compassion, and are excellent representatives for our country. Malcolm Allen Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
