Government

The latest news and updates on government policy, from the business journalists at Catering Today. We bring you the latest on what’s happening in the restaurants, bars and catering industry, with exclusive stories, analysis, best practice and industry comment.

Aug- 2018 -

1 August

Wetherspoon’s to cut all prices by 7.5% for ‘Tax Equality Day’

Wetherspoons has announced it is to cut all of its prices by 7.5% on Wednesday 20 September as part of ‘Tax Equality Day’. The day aims to highlight the benefits of reducing VAT in the hospitality industry. Pubs are currently charged 20% VAT, compared with supermarkets which benefit from zero-rate…
Read More »
Jul- 2018 -

24 July

Frank Field report finds some Deliveroo riders ‘earning £2 per hour’

A report released today concluding a five-week investigation by MP Frank Field has found that some Deliveroo drivers are earning as little as £2 per hour. The MP demanded that Deliveroo riders were paid the minimum wage of £7.83 per hour, Field’s report said that the company kept an oversupply…
Read More »
24 July

London’s Chinatown holds protest against immigration raids

Business owners and restaurant staff will be shutting Chinatown down for five hours to protest an immigration raid which happened on 5 July and resulted in a deaf and mute woman being taken to hospital. The walk-out has been organised the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA) which said that immigration…
Read More »
23 July

Deliveroo urges government to back self-employed people

Deliveroo has called for the creation of a new Charter which would allow ‘gig economy’ companies to provide benefits to riders without compromising their self-employment status. This is in response to the government’s consultation on the issue of employment status, which ran from 7 February to 1 June 2018 and…
Read More »
17 July

UKHospitality expresses concern over ‘dwindling immigrant’ numbers

UKHospitality has reacted with “considerable alarm” at the news that net EU migration has fallen to 100,000. According to figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), migration to the UK from the EU reached its lowest point in four years. This figure is still higher than the government’s aim…
Read More »
16 July

326 soft drinks manufacturers hit by ‘Sugar Tax’

HMRC has confirmed that 326 soft drinks manufacturers have been hit by the so-called ‘sugar tax’, research by accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young has revealed. The Soft Drinks Industry Levy was introduced on April 6, and taxes manufacturers 18p per litre produced if the drink contains five grams of sugar…
Read More »
13 July

UKHospitality commends Brexit white paper for acknowledging sector

UKHospitality has welcomed the government’s acknowledgement of the importance and prioritisation of the food and drinks industry in its Brexit white paper, published on 12 July. The trade body praised the government for its proposal of a free trade area, which will see a “friction free” trade at the border…
Read More »
12 July

EXCLUSIVE: Catering company hits back at HMRC over ‘underpaying employers list’ and fines

Corporate cake and biscuit caterer, Image on Food, has accused HMRC of misrepresenting information regarding supposed staff underpayments. The HMRC list published 6 July said that Image on Food owed 14 members of its 50 strong workforce £3,514.74 in unpaid wages, however the catering company say the issue is “not…
Read More »
10 July

KFC and Pizza Hut found to be underpaying workers

Over 20 UK restaurants and pubs including branches of KFC and Pizza Hut have been found to be underpaying workers in a list published this morning by HMRC. HMRC found that nearly 240 employers were found to be underpaying staff on the minimum wage, with many companies that employ caterers…
Read More »
9 July

UK Treasury rejects business rates reform calls

The UK Treasury has today rejected calls from retailers and restaurants who say business rates should be reformed to create a level playing field with online retailers. During a meeting of parliament’s Treasury Select Committee, chancellor Philip Hammond said reforming international corporation tax was a higher priority for the government,…
Read More »