REDUCTION OF VAT ON CONDOMS TO 5 PER CENT

Early day motion 469, tabled 11 January 2005 by Lynne Jones (Labour). Signed by 53 members.

That this House supports calls from the Terence Higgins Trust and the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV to reduce VAT charged on condoms; recognises that due to its position as an EU member state, the UK cannot entirely remove VAT on condoms but can reduce it to 5 per cent.; understands that sexually transmitted infections cost around ú1 billion to treat annually in the UK, while HIV care costs are ú350 million and rising; recognises that the high cost of contraceptives disproportionately disadvantages the young; and as a measure to reduce the consideration of cost as a factor in an individual's decision to practise safer sex, calls on the Government to reduce VAT charged on condoms to 5 per cent.

Signatures by party: Labour 41, Liberal Democrat 8, Plaid Cymru 2, Conservative 1, Independent 1.