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.

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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Apr- 2022 -

20 April

Gov to award CMA new power to ban fake reviews

The government is consulting a new law that will make it illegal to pay someone to write or host a fake review. It revealed this is so people are not “cheated” by bogus ratings. Fake reviews will be tackled by consulting on a new law against: Commissioning someone to write…
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14 April

Scotland to lift face covering laws on 18 April

Final confirmation face coverings are no longer a legal requirement to wear in most indoor public spaces and on public transport from Monday 18 April in Scotland. The Scottish Government has confirmed that the wearing of face coverings will become “only guidance” next week. In response the SLTA issued the…
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1 April

VAT rise to result in double-digit price increases, UKH warns

VAT in hospitality will rise from 12.5% to 20% on 1 April 2022, which UKH said “will result in double-digit price increases for consumers as operators struggle to survive” as the sector is forecasting cost inflation running at 18%. Recent business surveys show the industry is facing a 95% hike…
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Mar- 2022 -

24 March

Return to 20% VAT a ‘massive missed opportunity’, UKH says

A return to 20% VAT for the hospitality and tourism industry will be met with disappointment by thousands of hospitality businesses, UKHospitality has said. In addition, UKH has said that ending the 12.5% rate for hospitality would “jeopardise jobs and restrict the sector’s efforts to stifle price rises for consumers,…
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23 March

Spring Statement: Chancellor raises NI threshold to £12,570

The chancellor has outlined a series of measures to help combat the rising cost of living in his latest spring statement, including increasing the national insurance threshold by £3,000. Speaking in parliament today (23 March), Rishi Sunak began his speech by warning it is yet unclear what the impact of…
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17 March

Parliamentary inquiry recommends VAT remains at 12.5%

An inquiry by a group of MPs has recommended that VAT for the hospitality and tourism sectors stays at 12.5% beyond March. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Hospitality and Tourism, concluded that VAT should not return to 20% this April, citing UKHospitality data revealing that the lower rate…
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Feb- 2022 -

24 February

Gov must help hospitality move away from single-use plastics, says UKH

UKHospitality has said it has called on the Government to support hospitality businesses as they move away from single-use plastics, ahead of a proposed ban next year. The trade body said it is backing a planned April 2023 ban on single-use plastics, but wants to see government support as the…
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8 February

Over 250 hospitality leaders call for VAT to be held at 12.5%

More than 250 business leaders from hospitality and leisure have written to the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, urging the Government to keep VAT at 12.5% beyond March 2022, according to UKHospitality. It revealed the letter calls on the Treasury to maintain the current level to enable many “fragile” businesses to continue…
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Jan- 2022 -

24 January

VOA ‘aggressively pursuing’ fines for hospitality, warns Colliers

The government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has reportedly accelerated its demands to hotel and pub businesses by issuing and “aggressively pursuing” an increasing number of fines for late Valuation Forms of Return, Colliers Business Rates Team has warned. It said the increased fines are being sought despite the fact that…
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