e-Petition calling for return of VAT on fuel payments to Air Ambulance Services

York resident Ken Sharpe has launched an e-petition calling on the Government to refund to Air Ambulances all the VAT which they pay on the fuel they use.  It was launched only six days ago but has already been signed by over 5,000 people.

 

Mr Sharpe presented me with a copy of the petition this morning.  Anybody wishing to add their signature to this petition can do so on the Government e-petition website here.

 

I will be writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, in advance of the Budget speech on 21 March to ask the Government to refund VAT on fuel to Air Ambulance Services.  Special provision is already made in the EU VAT Directive for the zero-rating of fuel for use by the Lifeboat Service, which provides an essential rescue service; but no provision is made for the Air Ambulance Services, which provide life-saving rapid response emergency service to millions of people every year.  EU legislation does not allow individual countries like the UK to unilaterally extend zero rates of VAT to charities or rescue services.

 

I tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling on the Government to return, in the form of grants to Air Ambulance Service providers, all the VAT on fuel which the Treasury collects from them.  My motion has attracted strong all party support.

 

I hope the Chancellor will agree to return the VAT which they pay, so that the Air Ambulance Services receive the same benefit as the Lifeboat Service.