The 'Cut the VAT' Coalition has announced that Country Land and Business Association (CLA), whose 36,000 members manage and/or own half the rural land in England and Wales, has become the latest organisation to join the Coalition.

The 'Cut the VAT' Coalition believes that reducing VAT from 17.5% to 5% for all maintenance and home improvement work would benefit both society and business in many various ways including helping the Government achieve its target of cutting carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, getting rid of rogue traders, helping those who cannot afford vital repairs to their homes, bringing our empty properties back into use, protecting the countryside, stopping the destruction of decent existing buildings and helping to preserve our national heritage.

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Jonathan Thompson Heritage Adviser at the CLA said: "Our 36,000 members manage an enormous number of existing buildings, including at least a quarter of all listed buildings. VAT at 17.5% is a huge disincentive to repair, especially as new-build is zero-rated. A reduced rate would encourage much greater expenditure on repair, creating jobs and investment, putting redundant buildings to wealth-creating new uses, and enabling heritage to be better maintained."

Richard Hyslop, Cut the VAT Coalition Coordinator, said: "There are so many people and environments that would benefit from the cut in VAT. We are therefore delighted that the CLA have decided to become a member of the 'Cut the VAT' Coalition; the CLA have been campaigning on behalf of their members for a cut in VAT for many years."

(CD/JM)