Argyll and Bute MSP calls on chancellor to scrap VAT on defibrillators to help meet Mull shortfall

The MSP for Argyll and Bute has called upon the chancellor to scrap VAT on defibrillators to help Mull communities fund a shortfall.

Jenny Minto has been the Argyll and Bute MSP since 2021.

Defibrillators, which are used to restart the hearts of people in cardiac arrest, are currently subject to a 20% tax.

On Thursday, Ms Minto told BBC Good Morning Scotland: “The local community on Mull has been doing an amazing job.

“They have raised funds for 33 defibrillators which are spread across the island.

“Every primary school now has one, but there was no VAT, they could have had an extra six or seven defibrillators.”

VAT reduces amount of defibrillators

Defibrillators cost between anything from £800 to closer to £1500, depending on what equipment is purchased.

But Ms Minto says VAT is also already paid on the supportive equipment.

She said: “For example, if you’ve got defibrillators like in my constituency, in a number of old telephone boxes, then they need specific casing to ensure that they’re not damaged.

“And then if the defibrillator is required to be used, then you need to replace elements and it needs to be serviced every year.”

Earlier this year, in a debate on the matter led by Ms Minto in the Scottish Parliament, former chancellor Rishi Sunak received a letter from Finance Secretary Kate Forbes and public health minister Maree Todd calling for him remove VAT from all defibrillator purchases.

Rural communities need more defibrillators

Ms Minto told Good Morning Scotland that the proposal received cross-party support in Scotland.

She added: “The recommendation is that in urban areas, there should be a defibrillator every 200 meters. In rural areas, like my constituency, it’s one per every 1,000 of the population.

“Mull has got a population of just around about 3,000 people, so that would imply three defibrillators.

“But you can fit Glasgow into Mull about five times, so we are going to need more than three.”

‘You can’t put a price on life’

Her campaign has picked up speed after the Republic of Ireland announced it would be implementing the change from the start of next year.

The kit can increase survival rates by up to 70%.

Over the past few years, more of them have been getting installed across the north of Scotland.

Ms Minto said: “You can’t put a price on life.”