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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Andrew Bowden (Conservative), on Tuesday, 19 October 1993, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 92 members in total.

VAT ON FUEL AND PENSION INCREASES

That this House notes the continuing worry among elderly people about the impact of VAT on fuel bills; is concerned that linking compensation for higher fuel bills to income-related benefits will not help pensioners with incomes just above the qualifying limit, nor those who do not claim; believes that many hundreds of thousands of pensioners who miss out on benefits will have real difficulty meeting the extra costs of fuel once VAT is levied; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to increase the basic state retirement pension to cover the cost to pensioners of VAT on fuel.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received 4 amendments.

2464A1
leave out from 'people' to end and add 'those on low incomes and families with a handicapped member about the impact of VAT on domestic fuel bills; regrets the failure of successive Governments to implement both a policy of energy conservation through effective house insulation and automatic payment of a cold climate allowance to those most severely affected; recognises that climate cannot solely be measured by cold snaps but must take account of prevailing winds,dampness and atmospheric conditions throughout the winter months; and calls for an immediate programme of home insulation which will increase energy efficiency and create jobs, and the implementation of a geographical based cold climate allowance to all on basic state benefits throughout the winter months of November to March'.
2464A2
after 'limit', insert 'pensioners in hard-to-heat housing,'.
2464A3
at end add 'and to provide direct reimbursment of VAT charged to pensioners suffering above average VAT on fuel.'.
2464A4
leave out from 'Bills' to end and add 'believes that the Government's strategy of increasing the state pension in line with prices as well giving additional help to less well-off pensioners when combined with a commitment to increase income-related benefits to take account of the charge goes a very long way towards mitigating the effects of the introduction of VAT on domestic fuel charges; regrets that the Labour Conference decision to create "a general shift in taxation ... towards energy ..." did not include any safeguards for pensioners; notes that the Liberal Democrats' proposals to "... support a community-wide energy tax on all energy sources ..." failed to include safeguards for pensioners; and concludes that all pensioners will be better off under this Government's proposed tax and benefit changes than under either a Liberal Democrat or a Labour Government.'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
2464 
2464A1 
2464A2 
2464A3 
2464A4 
Session
1992-93
Subjects
Fuels Pensioners State retirement pensions VAT
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk