A campaign calling for mountain rescue teams to be exempt from paying VAT on life-saving equipment has stepped up a gear.
Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon held talks with European Union tax commissioner Algirdas Semeta in Strasbourg yesterday to press the case. The European Commission is currently consulting on changes to its VAT directive and campaigners believe mountain rescue teams should benefit from money-saving exemptions.
An online campaign, spearheaded by the Lib Dems, has been backed by 623 people and organisations who believe it is in the public interest.
The news was welcomed by Jonathan Hart, chairman of the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland, who said a 20% VAT exemption would make an “significant” difference to the 27 teams, which are made up of about 1,200 volunteers. He said it cost about £100,000 a year for the busiest team – Lochaber – to operate and from £30,000 to 40,000 for other units. Mr Lyon, who was accompanied to the meeting by fellow Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies, said: “Scotland’s natural environment is one of our richest resources but we know that enjoying our mountains and lowland areas is not without risk.
“In many communities, mountain and lowland rescue teams are an essential frontline emergency service. Giving us the option of cutting VAT from mountain rescue services could save money and help save lives.
“Changing the EU rules will take time but giving member states the freedom to cut tax could make a real difference.”
Mr Hart said the organisation was apolitical and would welcome any intervention that would put teams in a “better fiscal position”.
He added that they heavily relied on donations because an annual £312,000 Scottish Government grant covered 10% of all running costs and a £64,000 UK Government grant was spent on training.
Mr Hart said it cost about £1,000 a year to kit out individual volunteers.
“VAT exemption would represent a significant saving for us and it would be in the public interest,” he added.
An EU consultation on public-interest VAT exemptions ends in April.
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: “We are well aware of the essential work mountain rescue teams do as one of our emergency services.
“It is nearly three years since the Westminster government first suggested they would deal with the issue of mountain rescue teams being liable for VAT and this consultation is well overdue.”