The opening of the Scottish Parliament has produced some good news for the Cut the VAT coalition, as MSP Jim Tolson has tabled a motion supporting the call for a cut in VAT from 17.5% to 5% on home maintenance and repairs and asking other MSP to support it too. And five other MSPs have already signed the motion.
The motion cites a number of reasons why VAT should be cut on home maintenance and repairs including getting rid of cowboy builders, who flourish by evading VAT; bringing empty, dilapidated housing back into use by making repairs affordable and helping to keep families out of fuel poverty by making energy efficient repairs affordable.
The Cut the VAT coalition is formed of 12 varied organisations including The Bathroom Manufacturers Association, The Country Land & Business Association, House Beautiful magazine, RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), the Tax Payers Alliance and the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Grahame Barn, Director of the FMB in Scotland said:
"This is a great start to the new political year! I recently met with Jim Tolson MSP and I am pleased that he has grasped the importance of cutting VAT. Cutting VAT would make such a difference to so many people, not just homeowners but as Mr Tolson rightly points out, it would also help the Government achieve its goal of cutting homelessness by 2012. It is great to know that members at Holyrood support the call to cut VAT, now all we need is for Westminster to act and cut the VAT."
4th September 2008
