Winchester MP Joins Calls for VAT Free School Uniforms

Mark Oaten has joined other MPs in Parliament calling for VAT free school uniforms for primary and secondary schools by signing Early Day Motion 409.

The EDM, tabled by Lindsay Hoyle MP, notes that under the current system parents have to pay the full VAT on clothes for children aged 14 and over or children who exceed the set size limits on school uniforms.

The system therefore gives parents another financial headache to deal with in this recession and penalises children who are of a different size to the set proportions.

MP’s are therefore calling on Government to scrap both the size and age limit for VAT exemption and make all school uniforms for primary and secondary schools VAT free and “believes that the change in law would be just, logical and affordable for the Government with huge financial benefits for parents.”

Mark Oaten commented:

“I don’t really think its fair to say to parents ‘this jumper doesn’t fit your child so you have to pay more than the others’. Or suddenly have a cut off point for children aged 14 and over to have to pay full price.

“A lot of parents struggle to pay for all the different things our children need for school – stationary, sports kit and all the rest. So why not make a small change, not too expensive, that will actually make a meaningful difference to parents’ pockets.