VAT ON CONDOMS FOR CHARITIES

Early day motion 1429, tabled 15 June 1998 by Brian Sedgemore (Labour). Signed by 48 members.

That this House condemns the recent decision of HM Customs and Excise to remove condoms from their current VAT zero rated status when supplied by charities such as the Brook Advisory Centres to young people to protect themselves from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV; notes that research has shown that many young people, particularly men, only access services if they can obtain free condoms; believes that this is a false economy on the part of the Government because for every ú1 spent on family planning services, ú11 is saved in public expenditure whilst the annual expenditure on treating sexually transmitted diseases is ú874 million; deplores any measure like this which will lead to a rise in teenage pregnancies and make it impossible for the Government to achieve its targets for the nation's health in this sphere; and calls on the Government to find ways of reversing the harmful effects of this decision.

Signatures by party: Labour 35, Liberal Democrat 11, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.