VALUE ADDED TAX AND MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS

Early day motion 858, tabled 10 February 2010 by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 34 members.

That this House welcomes the decision not to levy value added tax (VAT) on the Everybody Hurts Sometimes charity single in aid of the victims of the Haiti disaster; recognises that British mountain rescue teams provide an unrivalled emergency service throughout the year and especially at times of an emergency such as the Grayrigg rail disaster, the Cumbrian floods and the recent extreme winter weather conditions; is perplexed that the Government was so quick to remove VAT from the Haiti single when it has spent the last four years avoiding a decision to refund VAT to mountain rescue teams who have to pay tax on crucial lifesaving equipment; and calls on the Government to correct this anomaly immediately and refund all VAT and vehicle excise duty paid by mountain rescue teams in England and Wales, amounting to only £180,000 per year in total.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Liberal Democrat 7, Independent 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.