APPLICATION OF VAT TO POLICE SCOTLAND AND THE SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

That this House calls on the Government to agree to requests from the Scottish Government for Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to have the same ability to recover VAT as other emergency services across the UK; notes that providing a level playing field for Scotland would free up an additional £33 million to invest in frontline policing, fire and rescue in Scotland at a time when budgets are under real pressure as a result of the Government's austerity policies; and urges the Government to finally do the right thing and provide a fair deal for Scotland's emergency services and end the disparity with other emergency services across the UK.