Agreed Atreyu, my point was its not quite the same as paying for other more substantial costs. £3 a day isn't too much to pay up front when you can claim it back.
Sidney_young - we had a crossed post, I was not questioning your nationality! To answer your question, no food allowance, the 1.90 per hour duty pay covers substinence etc.
I work for an airline that doesn't pay duty pay and requires receipts for food consumed on night stops to a limit that barely buys you a cheese sandwich - I'd like to know where these ideas are coming from.... Not a UK regional airline for sure.