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.

Dec- 2022 -

22 December

Business energy bills to be capped under new gov scheme

The government has unveiled a new plan that is set to cap wholesale energy bills for businesses for an initial six-month period from 1 October. The Government Energy Bill Relief Scheme, unveiled today (21 September) by business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, will reportedly bring support for households, businesses and public sector…
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20 December

Gov confirms alcohol duty freeze extension

The government has announced that the freeze on alcohol duty has been extended for a further six months to 1 August 2023. In a statement to the House of Commons, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury James Cartlidge laid out a plan aiming to give certainty to people in the catering…
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Nov- 2022 -

18 November

Industry reacts: ‘More is needed’ from Autumn Statement

The hospitality industry has warned that the chancellor’s Autumn budget, unveiled yesterday (17 November), does not go far enough with plans for economic growth, adding that “more is needed” to support pubs and breweries. Responding to the Autumn Statement, UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls, said she was “pleased that the chancellor…
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Oct- 2022 -

20 October

Liz Truss steps down as prime minister

Liz Truss has announced that she is standing as prime minister after a turbulent week for the government, just six weeks after taking up the premiership. The statement of her resignation was made at 13:30pm today (20 October) following a meeting between Truss and Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the…
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17 October

Chancellor reverses almost all mini-budget tax cuts

Newly appointed chancellor Jeremy Hunt has reversed almost all of the mini-budget commitments made by previous chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng last month, in a statement made at the Treasury today (17 October). He confirmed the basic rate of income tax will remain at 20% “indefinitely” until the economic situation stabilises, marking…
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12 October

UKH welcomes Energy Prices Bill

UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has welcomed the Government’s new Energy Prices Bill adding that it will provide “relief to all manner of hospitality businesses”. Under the new bill, consumers will pay a fairer price for their electricity as the UK government introduces new emergency powers that will ensure consumers…
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Sep- 2022 -

6 September

Government has ‘no plan’ to introduce hospitality work visa

The Government has said it has “no plan” to introduce a hospitality worker visa scheme despite a petition which has gained nearly 17,000 signatures. The petition, started by Thiago Luz Togni (general manager of Temper Shoreditch in London), called for the creation of a visa like the seasonal worker visa…
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Aug- 2022 -

26 August

CBI calls for emergency grant to tackle energy crisis

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) with business groups has called for the Government to introduce Covid-style emergency grants and a cut in VAT as part of a package of measures to help firms survive spiralling energy costs. New survey data from the CBI reveals the extent to which businesses…
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23 August

Hospitality worker visa petition gains over 10,000 signatures

A petition calling for the Government to create EU hospitality worker visas has reached over 10,000 signatures. The petition, created by Thiago Luz Togni, calls for the two year visa to work similarly to the Seasonal Work visa for horticulture workers, expressing that there is a “massive shortage of qualified…
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Jun- 2022 -

7 June

Sadiq Khan launches £500k scheme to boost night time high streets

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced a new £500,000 programme to create Night Time Enterprise Zones in London to help support economic recovery. The programme will allow boroughs to encourage more people to use their high streets after 6pm and to increase the number of night workers that benefit…
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