A reduction in VAT on home repair, maintenance and improvement work to 5% would cut the number of empty properties in Wales and ease the pressure on housing supply, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) as politicians prepare to debate a Liberal Democrat motion on housing in the Welsh Assembly.

The motion supports the calls for this targeted cut in VAT, and the FMB is urging the UK Government to listen again to the arguments made by politicians in Wales.

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Richard Jenkins, Director of FMB Wales, said: "Our research shows that cutting VAT on home repair, maintenance and improvement work from 20% to 5% would help renovate or bring back into use over 20,000 extra homes per year in the UK. It would also create around 1,000 extra construction jobs in Wales 2012 alone. Therefore, we welcome the fact that the Welsh Government and Welsh politicians from across the political spectrum show regular support for this measure, which would provide real help at a time when there is an increasing demand for more jobs and more housing in Wales and the UK. I hope government ministers in Westminster will listen closely to the arguments in favour of a VAT cut on home improvement work during the debate in the Assembly."

(CD)