Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on removing VAT on bee keeping equipment.

VAT is a broad based tax on consumption and the twenty per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services, including on equipment used for bee keeping. Businesses that are registered for VAT will usually be able to reclaim some or all of the VAT they incur when they purchase these items.

Although all taxes are kept under review, there are no plans to change the VAT treatment of bee keeping equipment at present.