Cops and fire services ‘miss out on £140m’

Candidate blasts Government over‘unfair’ VAT rules

31.05.2017 Mhairi Black claims the UK Government is with holding nearly £140 million from Scotland’s emergency services.

The SNP candidate for Paisley and Renfrewshire South says the police and fire service are missing out on funding because of unfair tax rules.

Under current rules, the Scottish emergency services are the only ones in the UK that are unable to reclaim their VAT bills.

Ms Black: “This last week has reminded all of us how much we value our emergency services and the job that they do.

“That’s why it is an absolute disgrace that the Tories are holding back nearly £100million that could be being spent on our police force and a further £40million for our fire service.

“By the end of the next Parliament, that will be nearly £300m if the Tories don’t do the right thing by our police.

“The Tories are burying their heads in bureaucratic excuses instead of paying up for our public services.”

She argues Police Scotland alone has lost out on nearly £100 million of additional revenue in the last four years.

She added: “We have heard police in England this week criticising Tory cuts to police numbers and investment – while in Scotland we have protected our police force.

“But the Tories are still withholding £ 140million of funding.

“Their stubborn refusal to allow the Scottish emergency services to reclaim VAT takes vital funds away from our frontline services.

“It is clear that the Tories cannot be trusted to deliver for Scotland’s emergency services – and they are guilty of taking £140 million away from our police and fire services.”