Cross-party letter calls on chancellor Rishi Sunak to ditch VAT on life-saving defibrillators

A cross-party letter has been sent to chancellor Rishi Sunak urging him to ditch VAT on purchases of life-saving defibrillators.

More than 50 MSPs from the SNP, Labour, Conservatives, Greens and the Lib Dems signed the letter which highlights the importance of building an effective defibrillator network across the country to ensure that those who suffer from an out of hospital cardiac arrest can receive CPR with defibrillation quickly and effectively.

Currently, charities and local authorities are able to claim a VAT exemption when purchasing a defib, but the chancellor is being urged to extend this exemption to anyone buying the equipment.

The letter has been sent by SNP MSP, Jenni Minto, who has been leading a campaign to have the tax removed.

The letter has been sent to chancellor Rishi Sunak.

The Argyll and Bute MSP said: “I am delighted to have cross-party support for this incredibly important campaign to have VAT removed from the purchase of community defibrillators.

“Defibs are vital and life-saving to those who suffer from an out of hospital cardiac arrest – every minute that someone does not receive defibrillation reduces their chance of survival by ten minutes.

“Having an effective network of community defibrillators is essential to saving lives and making them easier to purchase for local groups and businesses is a massive step in making defibs more accessible and in more areas across the country.

“I am delighted that the Scottish Government has already backed this campaign when Kate Forbes and Maree Todd wrote to Rishi Sunak urging him to take action.

“I look forward to hearing from the chancellor and hope he will understand the urgency of this issue and scrap VAT, a measure which will save lives.”

Gillian Mackay MSP, Scottish Greens health spokesperson, said: “I was pleased to add my name to this important cross-party campaign.

“Anything that can be done to make it easier for communities to obtain lifesaving defibrillators should be done, so I’d urge the chancellor to act on this very straightforward ask.”

Scottish Lib Dem leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton, said: “In a life-or-death situation, every second counts and therefore it’s vitally important that such equipment is available quickly.

“Helping organisations and businesses to get defibrillators and ensure that staff are trained to use them could literally save lives.

“For several years I have campaigned to have these lifesaving devices made available in every primary and secondary school.

“The UK government should ditch VAT on defibrillators and remove one of the roadblocks which is preventing this from happening.”