Farron hails potential victory in campaign to Mountain Rescue tax

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Jun 2007

Tim Farron has secured a promise from the Treasury to look at an exemption from VED for Mountain Rescue vehicles

Local MP Tim Farron has secured a promise from Treasury Minister John Healy that his Department will look into scrapping Vehicle Excise Duty on all Mountain Rescue vehicles. Mr Farron wrote to the Treasury after meeting with local representatives of the Mountain Rescue Service.

VED on 4x4 vehicles rises to £400 in April 2008, which will saddle Mountain Rescue with a bill of some £40,000 per annum. This would seriously endanger the chances of survival of what is a vital service.

Tim Farron said:

"I am pleased that the Minister has agreed to consider, and I will be following up his offer of a meeting with representatives from the Department to discuss the matter.

"The Mountain Rescue Service performs an invaluable job, this was never more obvious than after the train derailment at Grayrigg in February. The MRS were able to access the site quickly and easily because of the nature of their vehicles, and it would be disastrous if the service had to shut up shop because of excessive VED charges."