VAT help needed

Newly appointed Lib Dem ministers need to honour their party's manifesto commitment to cut VAT on repair and maintenance works. The construction sector has campaigned long and hard for VAT in this area to be cut to 5 per cent. A major petition on the No 10 website, launched by building firm Rok, is due to close on the 3 June and has already collected thousands of signatures.

With the emergency UK Budget now confirmed and speculation growing that the standard rate of VAT will rise to 20 per cent, the case for a differential on VAT charged for building maintenance and repair works has never been stronger.

A targeted VAT cut would help the suffering construction sector and encourage greater investment towards greening Scotland's 2.3 million homes and many other buildings.

It would also help to equip thousands of young construction workers with valuable green skills.

MICHAEL LEVACK

Scottish Building Federation

Crichton's Close

Edinburgh