Bakers in Angus have welcomed a reversal of Government plans to introduce VAT on all hot food.
Proposals for a so called "pie tax" had been met with criticism and it had been argued that the move would have cost jobs.
Now after a consultation period the charge will only apply to snacks that are kept hot after coming out of the oven as opposed to food which is allowed to cool.
It means producers of foods like bridies which are allowed to cool down will not be subject to a 20% VAT charge.
The news comes as a relief for bakers including Michael Saddler, of Saddlers Bakers in Forfar, which makes Bridies.
He said: “It’s been very hard over the winter months. At this time of the year we are hoping to get tourists in and do not want to put another 20% on our bridies.”
SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire Pete Wishart said: “These very poorly thought-out proposals would have had a huge impact on small businesses.
“This daft and damaging, half-baked idea would have upped the price of a pie and would have meant more paperwork and reduced profits for many hard-pressed businesses.”
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