Singer Midge Ure and West End actress Carley Stenson are backing a campaign to abolish VAT on safety products in the home.
The Government is being urged to scrap the 20 per cent tax on a range of products and services including fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, gas safety checks, fire doors and fire extinguishers.
The Axe Safety Tax initiative has wide support including backing by a number of MPs and other celebrities including former England footballer Robbie Fowler. There is an online petition to have the issue debated in Parliament: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/209347
The campaign has been prompted by a number of facts including:
1.5 million households in England do not have a smoke alarm
4,000 people in England are hospitalised each year due to carbon monoxide poisoning
Almost 2,500 electrical fire incidents are reported every year
Low-income families are most at risk from carbon monoxide poisoning as they cannot afford to service, repair or replace gas appliances.
Paul Durose, CEO of award-winning safety tech company Gas Tag, which initiated the Axe Safety Tax campaign, said: “At a time when safety in the home is so high on the political agenda, it is a disgrace that safety products are taxed as if they were luxury items. In sharp contrast, annual MOT inspections which are also intended to save lives are zero-rated.”
Video showing celebrities backing the campaign: https://vimeo.com/253250607/dcfac49190