John presents petition against ‘caravan tax’
John Healey was among 27 MPs to present a petition to Parliament calling for a stop to the “caravan tax.”
In this year’s Budget the Government announced plans to apply VAT to static caravans from 1 October 2012.
The idea was passed in the Finance Bill, which Mr Healey voted against last month.
Speaking in the House of Commons last night, the Wentworth and Dearne MP said:
“I have a petition here, “Stop the Caravan Tax”, signed by Scott Staniforth of 45 Vicar Road, Wath, and others from my constituency.
“They see that the tax on static caravans could add £8,000 to the price of a caravan, price families out of their regular holiday and thwart many people’s ambition to own an affordable second home.”
Mr Healey received the petition, signed by 24 people from Wath, Swinton, Goldthorpe, Kilnhurst and Rawmarsh, which stated:
“The petitioners believe that levying VAT on static holiday caravans would cost thousands of jobs in caravan manufacturing, from their suppliers, and in the wider UK holiday industry.
“The petitioners believe that such a levy would lose revenue for the Government. They therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to reverse its decision to levy VAT on static caravans.”
• UPDATE: On 28 May 2012 the Government bowed to pressure and agreed to reduce the intended 20% charge to 5%, and put back its introduction to April 2013.