Eat Out to Help Out.

Can the people who can't benefit from the vouchers have a tax refund? They'll be paying for them, just like everybody else.

The vouchers and the latest furlough scheme are a waste of public money and should have been better targeted towards those businesses and individuals who need support.

In the context of the fuss which was made in extending the £15 a week free school dinner scheme for six weeks, the vouchers are a cynical disgrace.

growstuff

Can the people who can't benefit from the vouchers have a tax refund? They'll be paying for them, just like everybody else.

The vouchers and the latest furlough scheme are a waste of public money and should have been better targeted towards those businesses and individuals who need support.

In the context of the fuss which was made in extending the £15 a week free school dinner scheme for six weeks, the vouchers are a cynical disgrace.

The point is to give a shot in the arm to the hospitality industry which needs all the support it can get not just to put money in your or my pocket by way of a tax refund and to those who say nobody should be eating out at the moment may I point out that we have another 3 weeks until it is implemented.

Dinahmo Some of us self-employed can't even claim any benefits, despite paying income tax and NICs - nothing, nada, zilch. Not all the 3 million are in that situation, but most are.

It's not just people not self-employed before 2019, but you have to have earned more from self-employment than from other sources for three years. So if it's taken time for the business to build and have worked as an employee or have a pension at the same time, you get nothing.

We have a Tastecard so get BOGOF anyway!! £10 off each is not much of a deal if you eat at a decent restaurant ....I wonder where Rishi Sunak eats then, if he thinks that's a good deal? ?

MawB

growstuff

Can the people who can't benefit from the vouchers have a tax refund? They'll be paying for them, just like everybody else.

The vouchers and the latest furlough scheme are a waste of public money and should have been better targeted towards those businesses and individuals who need support.

In the context of the fuss which was made in extending the £15 a week free school dinner scheme for six weeks, the vouchers are a cynical disgrace.

The point is to give a shot in the arm to the hospitality industry which needs all the support it can get not just to put money in your or my pocket by way of a tax refund and to those who say nobody should be eating out at the moment may I point out that we have another 3 weeks until it is implemented.

I realise that, so support the small businesses which need it, not the big corporations like MacDonalds and Weatherspoons. The hospitality employees could continue to receive support via the furlough scheme. It is a waste of money and badly targeted.

PS. I won't be going out in three weeks either. I can't afford it.

Tax refunds for the lower paid do get spent.

Clearly the timing of its implementation has been well thought out. By restricting it to a couple of weeks in August it should mean many eateries in tourist towns will be guaranteed the custom of visitors. They are the ones who have really suffered most.

The point of it is to lure the sensibly cautious out into the world of spending money again.

Three weeks is nothing at this time.

Look at the three pubs that had to close again.

So if they're guaranteed business, they don't need additional support.

It's a waste of money, badly targeted and everybody (including those who can't make use of it) will have to pay.

The timing is absolutely rubbish. It's more like something which was dreamt up late at night in the HoC bar.

It really is "bread and circuses".

No one thinks that thirteen days of trading is going to do anything for the recovery of any business.

It's a con. Don't fall for it. You may well regret it.

It really is "bread and circuses".

A bit like "qu'ils mangent de la brioche" then growstuff?

I had high hopes of Sunak, but this latest set of announcements I find terribly disappointing and I am now worried for our country.

Ellianne

Clearly the timing of its implementation has been well thought out. By restricting it to a couple of weeks in August it should mean many eateries in tourist towns will be guaranteed the custom of visitors. They are the ones who have really suffered most.

Doesn’t August still have 31 days in it then?

I had high hopes of Rishi too. But, I watched him on Breakfast this morning and was so disappointed in his replies regarding the poor man who 'slipped through the cracks'.

You're correct August has 31 days MawB, but if we multiply 3 days by 4 weeks it only amounts to a couple of weeks. That was my thinking.

They will still be trading on the other days though, Ellianne

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Myself and AC will all use the eat out to help out offers. Anything to get the economy moving and start on the long and difficult road to recovery.

If it wasn't for Rishi Sunaks furlough scheme many more people would have lost their jobs and some business would no longer exist.

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gg13 I do agree about Sunaks initial efforts, but he has disappointed over the last few days.

growstuff

Dinahmo Some of us self-employed can't even claim any benefits, despite paying income tax and NICs - nothing, nada, zilch. Not all the 3 million are in that situation, but most are.

It's not just people not self-employed before 2019, but you have to have earned more from self-employment than from other sources for three years. So if it's taken time for the business to build and have worked as an employee or have a pension at the same time, you get nothing.

Yes I know, I have several clients who are caught by that. Those that are usually have some other source of income, such as the state pension or rental income. Some of them have started to set up their businesses before they actually retire so that they continue after they cease employment. However, they will have received tax relief on the cost of their equipment which might have resulted in a tax refund (if properly planned)

If I'd had a glass ball and could have seen into the future, I might have changed my mind about the amount of tax relief I was claiming for some clients and claimed a smaller amount over a longer period.

I think we have to remember it’s up to the public whether or not they start to eat out. A few pounds off the bill is only going to appeal to those who were going to venture out anyway.

Those who are unsure are more likely to wait until they feel safer. Nothing that is said, especially mocking remarks, are going to encourage them.

They are under no obligation to eat out or win any wars.

We used to eat out 2 or 3 times each week before Covid do will be going out again in next couple of weeks. We often had a breakfast at weekend out, a lunch in a pub and a carvery dinner while we took child to cricket and had to wait 2 hours and too far to drive home and back.

We are two of the lucky ones who could afford to eat out before and can afford to eat out again so any discount will certainly go in to the tip jar, I'm just hoping I can fit in to my big girls pants and brave the world beyond my garden.
The VAT is to benefit the business not the customer, I do hope that we all feel brave enough to support local cafes, restaurants and pubs as they offer many of life's pleasures to most of us.
I do think our government are doing a good job in trying to stimulate the economy but it is up to all of us to help by spending wherever we can if we can afford to do so.
I look forward to big infrastructure spending in the near future, creating employment opportunity, as our government get us through the pandemic and Brexit and follow through on their election manifesto.

Peardrop50 Of course the VAT reduction is to help the customer. That's the whole point of it. Instead of paying £2 on top of a £10 bill you'll only be paying £5. Although because lots of smaller establishments will have VAT inclusive prices is anyone going to notice if the prices have changed?