Doggy bags are in but takeaways are out: Sunak’s job-saving menu

Amy Jones Anna Mikhailova RISHI SUNAK’S meal deal scheme is subject to a “one bite” rule, meaning customers can take home half-price meals in doggy bags.

While takeaways are not included in the “Eat Out to Help Out” initiative, diners will be able leave with their food as long as they begin eating inside.

Guidance issued by the taxman yesterday states if a customer is dining in but leaves with “the remainder of their meal”, the “discount will still apply”.

Under the scheme, the Government will cover half the cost of a meal out up to £10 a head from Mondays to Wednesdays in August. School and workplace canteens are eligible for the discount as well as cafés, pubs, tourist attractions with dining facilities, hotel restaurants and members’ club dining rooms.

For canteens, the discount can be

“applied to food and drink that is sold to employees or students for immediate consumption on premises”. Takeaways and mobile vans are not allowed to take part, even if they “put a table and chairs on the pavement outside”.

The guidance states: “To be eligible, your business must have the facility to offer dining on the premises.”

Trains can take part as long as there is a “specific area or dining carriage for dining”. But planes cannot provide discount catering as “they do not have restaurant areas where food is bought and eaten”. Wedding caterers will also be ineligible.

Restaurants can offer the discount alongside any other offers and discounts but must apply their offer and deduct any service charge before calculating the total and making a claim to HMRC. Restaurants cannot apply a 50 per cent discount on food and drink that is sold as part of a private party, event or function.

A stall at a sporting stadium or other attraction can take part, but only if there is a “designated area” for customers to use. While hotel restaurants can take part, the discount will only be available on food and drink sold for “immediate consumption” in its hotels, meaning they cannot claim for meals

‘Takeaways and mobile vans are not allowed to take part, even if they put a table and chairs on the pavement outside’

included in room rates, such as bed and breakfast.

Businesses will need to register on gov.uk and be approved by the Food Standards Agency. Claims will be paid within five working days.

But yesterday there were fears the “Eat Out to Help Out” scheme could be used fraudulently by unscrupulous businesses.

Helen Miller, deputy director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said there were “serious issues” around fraud as businesses could misrepresent the number of diners. “There will be some details to work out in the administration of the scheme,” she said.

She also questioned why takeaway food was ineligible, saying there was a “very strong case” for its inclusion as many people still feared eating out.

It also emerged that Jim Harra, HMRC’S permanent secretary, warned Mr Sunak against the proposal, citing concerns of “uncertainty surrounding the value for money”.

 Boris Johnson is reportedly preparing to ban supermarket promotions on unhealthy foods in the first drive against obesity after his coronavirus battle. He is also considering introducing a 9pm watershed on junk food advertising, The Times reported.