MPs join charities’ VAT plea (From Wharfedale Observer)

MPs join charities’ VAT plea

5:50pm Saturday 5th May 2012 in News By Newsdesk

Two Wharfedale MPs have put their case for healthcare charities to receive VAT relief directly to the Government.

Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) and Kris Hopkins (Con, Keighley and Ilkley) joined Nic Dakin (Labour, Scunthorpe) and representatives from Sue Ryder when they met Treasury Minister David Gauke last week.

Mr Mulholland has already tabled an Early Day Motion and co-signed a ten-minute rule bill, calling on the Government to provide tax relief for charitable health care providers like Sue Ryder, which runs West Yorkshire hospices Wheatfields and Manorlands.

He said: “I hope the minister will take on board everything we and the representatives of Sue Ryder had to say and give further consideration to the calls for providing charitable healthcare providers to be offered the same VAT relief as the NHS.”

Mr Hopkins, meanwhile, who has previously lobbied both the Chancellor and Mr Gauke on the issue and raised it directly with the Prime Minister, said: “It is clearly an anomaly that the NHS is entitled to VAT relief while charitable healthcare providers are not. However, I believe a satisfactory outcome will be found, and the sooner the better.”