HARMONISATION OF VAT ON EMPTY HOMES

Early day motion 136, tabled 16 December 1998 by Jonathan R Shaw (Labour). Signed by 109 members.

That this House deplores the waste of 800,000 empty homes in England and Wales; notes that to build a new home on a greenfield site VAT is zero-rated, yet to remove a long standing empty home, builders are charged the full rate of 17.5 per cent.; calls on the Government to harmonize the VAT rates at 5 per cent. for new house building and the refurbishment of long standing empty homes; notes that placing these activities on a level playing field will provide the necessary incentive to the building industry and ensure a sustainable housing policy, which will help regenerate inner cities and protect the countryside; and further notes that the British Government Panel on Sustainable Development, the Civic Trust, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, the Chartered Institute of Housing, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Empty Homes Agency are among the many organisations supporting this proposal.

Signatures by party: Labour 73, Liberal Democrat 23, Labour/Co-operative 7, Conservative 4, Plaid Cymru 2.