72 per cent of MPs in the South of England Support Cut in VAT

A massive 72 per cent of MPs representing constituencies in the South of England support a cut in VAT from 17.5 per cent to 5 per cent for all building repair and maintenance work according to new research carried out by ComRes on behalf of the 'Cut the VAT' Coalition.

Richard Hyslop, Coalition Coordinator said,

With the vast majority of MPs in the South supporting a cut in VAT for building repair and maintenance work, the time for excuses is over; the Government must act now and cut this pernicious tax.

Hyslop continued,

Reducing VAT on building repair and maintenance work would help end the scandal of empty homes, reduce the number of families living in substandard housing, stop the destruction of existing buildings, tackle fuel poverty and increase the number of zero-carbon homes.

Hyslop concluded,

The high rate of VAT on building repair work also prevents people, particularly those on low-incomes, from maintaining their homes. In many instances, this results in people living in misery because they cannot afford to have basic repairs or central heating installed. What makes this worse is that these tend to be the most vulnerable people in our society, with the elderly particularly at risk. With fuel bills rising and with 4.5 million people living in fuel poverty a cut in VAT is vital. MPs have spoken; it is now time for the Government to act!

Between 21 April and 09May, ComRes surveyed 168 MPs on the ComRes MP Panel using self-completion postal questionnaires. Data was weighted to reflect the exact composition of the House of Commons in terms of party representation and regional distribution.

ComRes asked MPs the following question,

Do you support or oppose a reduction in VAT from 17.5 per cent to 5 per cent for building repair and maintenance work?

Based on this question 38 per cent of MPs from the South of England strongly supported a cut with a further 34 per cent of MPs from the South of England supporting a cut pending further information. Only 7 per cent of MPs from the South of England opposed a cut pending further information and 14 per cent of MPs from the South of England were strongly opposed to a cut. The remaining 7 per cent answered "Don't know".

The Bournemouth Natural Science Society is responsible for the fabric of a Grade II Victorian Villa (39 Christ Church Road, Bournemouth). The Bournemouth Natural Science Society is a registered charity and has been established for over 100 years. The problems of maintaining this old building grow year by year, because of its age, height and construction - lots of exposed painted timber. The fact that it is listed adds to those problems and to the cost of using only contractors suitable to work on a listed building which the society estimate lifts cost by at least 25 per cent.

1999: Dry rot treatment (second bout of uninsurable loss). The total repair bill was £18,569, including £2,766 in VAT. That VAT amounted to 32 per cent of the society's subscription income for that year.

2000: Re-pointing the whole of the building using special lime mortar and full painting of exterior wood work whilst the scaffolding was in place and re-glazing the roof lantern. Total repair bill was £33,640, including £5,010 in VAT. That VAT amounted to 64 per cent of the society's subscription that year.

The 'Cut the VAT' Coalition is calling for a reduction in VAT from 17.5 per cent to five per cent for all building repair and maintenance work. This is the first time a coalition of this nature has been formed to lobby on the social, economic, heritage and environmental benefits of cutting VAT on building repair and maintenance work.

The Coalition is made up of the following organisations: Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors, Bathroom Manufacturers Association, Civic Trust, Countryside Alliance, Empty Homes Agency, Federation of Master Builders, House Beautiful Magazine, National Home Improvement Council, National Landlords Association, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the TaxPayers' Alliance.