VAT plea for rescuers

RESCUE equipment bought by Oldham Mountain Rescue Team should be zero-rated for VAT, according to a council motion.

Councillors John Dillon and Rod Blyth will ask Oldham Council tomorrow to support the motion that all rescue equipment purchased by the team should have no VAT.

Although rescue teams can be registered as charities, they still have to pay the full amount of VAT (17.5 per cent) on some items of equipment.