VAT ON SANITARY PRODUCTS

Early day motion 380, tabled 2 March 1999 by Chris McCafferty (Labour). Signed by 188 members.

That this House believes that sanitary products should be classed in the category of essential to the family budget, just as food, children's clothing and books already are, and that, like such products, they should be classed as VAT-free under the EC Sixth Directive; notes that Britain currently has one of Europe's highest rates of VAT on sanitary products and that 15 million British women spend in excess of ú300 million a year on products that are necessary to personal hygiene; further notes that removing VAT from sanitary products would only cost the Treasury one penny a year for every women in the country using them; calls on the Government to reduce the VAT on sanitary products to the EU minimum of five per cent.; and asks the Government to support a change in the European law so that such products can be zero-rated.

Signatures by party: Labour 140, Liberal Democrat 28, Labour/Co-operative 9, Conservative 5, Scottish National Party 3, UUP 2, Unknown 1.