Jeremy Hunt has been urged to scrap VAT on defibrillators to encourage more businesses and public spaces to install the life-saving devices.
SNP MSP Jenni Minto has urged the new Tory Chancellor to back her campaign to ease the tax burden on the machines.
Defibrillators vary in cost but the average unit is around £1,250. The considerable expense is considered to be off-putting to many community groups, charities and sports clubs - especially as 20 per cent of the cost is VAT.
Minto said: "Jeremy Hunt cannot put a price on life. Defibrillators are a vital piece of equipment and are literally the difference between life and death.
Scrapping the VAT on defibs make it cheaper for allow businesses and charities who are not already exempt to purchase one, which will be vital for anyone nearby who suffers a cardiac arrest.
"Every second counts when someone suffers a cardiac arrest so making defibs cheaper will allow a more effective defibrillator network to be built and increase the chances of someone surviving. I am delighted that my campaign to have VAT on defibs scrapped has already been backed by the Scottish Government and I hope Jeremy Hunt listens to the calls and scraps the tax to help save lives.”
The UK Government does maintain a VAT relief scheme to aid the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in certain circumstances. This includes VAT relief on purchases made by local authorities and those made through voluntary contributions.
But opposition parties want that to go further as the relief scheme does not cover replacement batteries or pads. The UK Government said in February that "any new VAT relief would come at a cost to the exchequer and the Government has received over £50 billion worth of requests for relief from VAT since the EU referendum."
A UK Government spokesman said: "We take the safety of the public seriously and provide several VAT reliefs to help organisations buy defibrillators and other first aid equipment, and we are continuing to look too at ways to further expand public access to these life-saving devices."
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
