Assorted Links (7 Jan 2010)

1/ The Times - OFT refers bus industry over poor service and prices - we will be blogging about this important report / referral in the coming days. The OFT report has some fascinating background on the structure of the bus industry in the UK.

2/ The Independent - Tim Richards: The cinema boss who made room for a Vue - this is a revealing interview with one of the UK’s brightest leisure industry entrepreneurs who spoke so well at our Business Conference last year. ““It pains me to say this,” Mr Richards says, “but 65 per cent to 75 per cent of people leaving the cinema can’t tell you the name of it. They can tell you about the services but not the name.” So he doesn’t see Odeon and Cineworld as rivals.”

3/ BBC News - Switzerland millionaire hit by record speed fine - a hat tip to Steve Whiteley for spotting this example of the Swiss speed fine system where the fine is linked to the income of the driver. Ashley Cole may be pleased he has not opted to play some soccer for FC Zurich!

4/ Telegraph - France plans ‘Google tax’ on internet searches - France is planning a “Google tax” on internet search websites to raise money to plough into creative industries weakened by the digital revolution - but is this kind of tax actually feasible let alone desirable?

5/ The Guardian - Car scrappage scheme can’t halt sales slide - the annual figures for new car sales in 2009 were the weakest for 14 years despite the boost given to the industry by the car scrappage scheme