That the Parliament understands that Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue continue to be the only territorial forces in the UK unable to reclaim VAT; believes that this costs £35 million annually, and has totalled £140 million since 2013; notes what it sees as the detrimental impact that paying this VAT has on frontline services in communities in Edinburgh Northern and Leith and across Scotland; acknowledges the view that the UK Government should change its rules to allow this VAT to be reclaimed, similar to the action that it took to enable Highways England and academy schools to reclaim VAT, and further notes the argument that the UK Government should fully reimburse the reported £140 million taken away from Scotland's frontline emergency services since 2013.
Supported by:
George Adam, Tom Arthur, Jackie Baillie, Claire Baker, Colin Beattie, Bruce Crawford, Graeme Dey, Bob Doris, James Dornan, Mary Fee, John Finnie, Kate Forbes, Kenneth Gibson, Jenny Gilruth, Christine Grahame, Ross Greer, Emma Harper, Patrick Harvie, Clare Haughey, Alison Johnstone, Bill Kidd, Monica Lennon, Richard Lochhead, Richard Lyle, Angus MacDonald, Fulton MacGregor, Rona Mackay, Ruth Maguire, Gillian Martin, John Mason, Joan McAlpine, Ivan McKee, Christina McKelvie, Stuart McMillan, Ash Regan, Gail Ross, Alex Rowley, Mark Ruskell, Stewart Stevenson, Maree Todd, David Torrance, Sandra White, Andy Wightman