On Tuesday 8th May Graham Stuart will meet with staff at the Beverley caravan manufacturing firm ABI (UK) Limited to discuss the impact a VAT increase on static holiday caravans would have on jobs in the industry.
Since the tax rise was announced in the Budget in March Graham has conducted a vigorous campaign in opposition that has included organising a meeting between MPs and East Yorkshire caravan manufacturers, arranging meetings with the Chancellor and Treasury officials, offering an amendment prohibiting the VAT rise to the Finance bill, leading an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons and circulating a public petition to be presented to Parliament.
The Beverley and Holderness MP said, “I am anxious to hear directly from the staff at ABI about the impact that this tax increase would have. We must make sure the Treasury understands that the decisions they take will have a serious impact on the lives of hardworking people in Beverley, East Yorkshire, and the country as a whole.”
Mel Copper, the Chief Executive at ABI added, “The Treasury consultation document assumes there will be a 30% market reduction – this would be 20% below the market at the depths of the recession and would be devastating for employees across all manufacturers and suppliers, jeopardising thousands of jobs in a sector that is currently fragile at best. To knowingly impose a tax that would have such consequences is irresponsible and unacceptable.”
ABI is the second largest manufacturer of Holiday Homes, with over 25% share of the UK market and employs 350 staff at their site in Beverley.
Earlier this week Graham encouraged constituents concerned about the tax rise to sign a copy of a public petition opposing VAT on static holiday caravans. The petition will be presented to Parliament to illustrate the level of concern in East Yorkshire. It can be downloaded and printed here:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8C691N_Z54fbVFBbkExdHZPZTQ/edit?pli=1#
