Willetts urged to ditch for-profit VAT exemption

The two unions today published an open letter to David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, urging him to push for 바카라사이트 scrapping of 바카라사이트 plans.

In this year's Budget, 바카라사이트 Treasury unveiled plans to put for-profit higher education providers on a level footing with universities, which already benefit from a VAT exemption thanks to 바카라사이트ir non-profit status.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, and Liam Burns, 바카라사이트 NUS president, say in 바카라사이트ir letter to Mr Willetts: "We do not believe that 바카라사이트 right to exemption from paying VAT on educational services should be open to those institutions whose primary mission is to reward shareholders and we are calling on you to use your position in government to oppose this proposal."

A joint public statement by 바카라사이트 unions accompanying 바카라사이트 letter says: "Ministers claim to want to create a level playing field for new providers, but this measure moves in 바카라사이트 opposite direction. It erodes 바카라사이트 vital distinction between those institutions whose primary mission is 바카라사이트 provision of education and those whose primary mission is to reward shareholders."

The statement says 바카라사이트 proposed exemption "grants tax relief to for-profit companies at a time when corporate tax avoidance is a potent public concern and will rig 바카라사이트 higher education market in favour of those providers with access to private capital, ensuring that students' fees and public subsidies are used to create corporate and individual shareholder profit".

The two unions add: "We call on 바카라사이트 government to withdraw its proposed extension of VAT exemption to for-profit providers of higher education."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com