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Farron Hails Mountain Rescue funding progress
April 1, 2010 12:00 AM
Tim Farron has welcomed indications this week from Home office minister David Hanson that Mountain Rescue teams in England may get increased home office funding for certain pieces of equipment.
Mountain Rescue teams are funded by voluntary donations but the teams are forced to pay VAT and Vehicle Excise Duty on vital life-saving equipment and vehicles. Tim continues to lead the campaign in Westminster to force the Treasury to payback all these taxes.
This week, Tim had discussions in Westminster with MPs and Lords involved in the campaign which has led to the Home Office Minister suggesting that they could help Mountain Rescue teams by directly purchasing some of their equipment centrally - something which already happens in Scotland.
Tim said, "This is an encouraging step forward. As the tourist season really gets under way here in Cumbria, we know how much we rely on the outstanding volunteers who run our Mountain Rescue teams. It is wrong that those volunteers are left with such a financial burden. If the Home Office can fund certain items of equipment, that would be a big help - but that doesn't let the Treasury off the hook, its essential that VAT and Vehicle Excise Duty is refunded to this essential emergency service."
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