Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, is concerned that the UK Government is unsure about when it will apply the cut in vat for ski lifts, as announced in the 2012 Budget.

As there are three ski centres in Mr Thompson’s constituency he has been a long-time campaigner for cutting the VAT on ski lifts and he was delighted when the UK Government announced that it was finally in agreement with his recommendations. However, enquiries to the HM Treasury and to Mr Danny Alexander have yielded no results on when the cut will be applied. Mr Thompson is pressing for the cut to be applied in time for the 2013 season, as waiting any longer will mean that the ski centres have to wait two years before taking advantage of the long anticipated cut.

Today, Mr Thompson wrote to Mr Alexander articulating his concern at the ambiguity and uncertainty of when the UK Government will implement the VAT cut (email included below).

Mr Thompson said, “The news that the UK Government is to cut the VAT on ski lifts to 5% is very welcome for the three ski centres in my constituency of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch but I am intrigued as to when the Government will apply this cut in VAT.

“The ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the VAT cut is not beneficial. I am urging Mr Alexander to consider applying the cut in VAT from 1 January 2013 so that the ski centres can benefit from this in the 2013 season.

Note:

Email from Mr Thompson to Mr Alexander:

Dear Mr Alexander

Cutting ski lift VAT in January 2013

In the recent budget, the UK Government announced its intention to cut VAT on ski lifts from 20% to 5%. While this news is obviously very welcome for the three ski centres in my constituency of Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, I am intrigued as to when the Government will apply this cut in VAT.

Enquiries to the Treasury and to your constituency office yielded no answer on the Government’s timescale for applying the cut in ski lift VAT which concerns me considerably. If the VAT cut is not implemented in an appropriate timescale then ski centres in Scotland will not be able to benefit from the VAT for another two years.  I urge you to consider applying the cut in VAT from 1 January 2013 so that the ski centres can benefit from this in the 2013 season.

I hope you will consider my proposal as it has the backing of ski centres in my constituency. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.