Mark Alcock Calls on the Government to Repay VAT to Mountain Rescue Heroes

11.28.00pm GMT Thu 14th Jan 2010

Following weeks in which Mountain Rescue Teams across the country have been providing vital emergency support to help deal with the adverse conditions caused by blizzard like weather, Shadow Liberal Democrat MP for Oldham West & Royton including Chadderton, Mark Alcock has called on the Government to show their appreciation by delivering some much needed financial support to the organisation.

Mountain Rescue Teams have been helping emergency services cope with treacherous weather conditions by providing vehicle support to ambulance crews and rescuing vehicles stuck in the snow. Mountain rescue teams have also provided vital help to get people to hospital, to rescue people who have got stranded in the hills of Saddleworth in 5+ metre high drifts.

Despite providing a service which is estimated to save the taxpayer £6million a year, Mountain Rescue teams still have to pay VAT and vehicle excise duty (VED) on much of their equipment and vehicles.

Mark Alcock has placed a motion asking for Oldham council to support calls on the Government to repay the money taken from Mountain Rescue teams in VAT as a demonstration of gratitude for the exemplary service during the last week.

Commenting Mark said:

"When local people and visitors put money into the mountain rescue teams' collection buckets, they do not expect the treasury to snatch a sixth of their donation. 100% of those funds should go to helping mountain rescue volunteers to provide their vital service.

"Time and time again the Government has offered nothing but lip service to Mountain Rescue teams instead of the financial support that they need. Mountain rescue teams save the government in excess of £ 6,000,000 per year as shown in the last few weeks across Oldham Borough, but it appears that the government is prepared to take all and give nothing in return

"Ministers must act to ease the cash burden on Mountain Rescue Team. A good start would be for them to repay the £200k taken from Mountain Rescue teams as an act of fairness and of real tangible gratitude to our emergency services."