While police and fire services elsewhere in the UK are exempt from VAT, the UK Government has rejected the Scottish Government’s requests to exempt Scottish emergency services. This is vital funding at a time when unprecedented Westminster spending cuts are already hammering public services.

Each time Scottish Emergency Services purchase something which will help to save the lives of thousands of Scots, they are forced to pay VAT on that purchase.

The emergency services in the rest of the UK are exempt from VAT. In a time when austerity rules and our emergency services are forced to make cutbacks, the savings from our emergency services not paying VAT could save countless lives. 

You cannot put a price on human life and you certainly cannot force the emergency services to pay VAT in Scotland when the remainder of the UK is exempt.