Terrence Higgins Trust, Labour Students and The National Union of Students welcome the announcement in Gordon Brown’s budget that VAT on condoms will be reduced to 5%.  The organisations have been working together to campaign for this reduction to be made and are pleased to see the Government making sexual health a priority.

Lisa Power, Head of Policy at Terrence Higgins Trust said “We’re absolutely delighted that the Government have seen sense and reduced VAT on condoms.  It’s fantastic to get a positive result for this campaign which we have been working on for several years.  A normal rate of VAT is charged on luxury items, yet condoms are not a luxury.  If we are to reduce the ever increasing rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in the UK, they are a necessity.”

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For further information please contact Sally Wright at the THT press office on 020 7816 8620.

Notes to editors

• Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, providing a wide range of services for over 60,000 people a year.  The charity also campaigns and lobbies for greater political and public understanding of the personal, social and medical impact of HIV and sexual health
• Labour Students is the affiliated student wing of the Labour Party. Sharing the core values of the Labour Party: equality, democracy and social justice, it is an independent organisation that campaigns on issues important to students. This year Labour Students has run a Priority Campaign, Sex, Lives and Politics, which has called on the Government to keep to its pledges to launch a national chlamydia screening programme and reduce GUM clinic waiting times to 48hrs by 2008 and, for a reduction in tax on condoms to 5%
• The National Union of Students (NUS) represents the interests of over 5 million students in further and higher education in the UK. NUS is committed to improving the lives and experiences of students in the UK, ensuring their voices are heard and effectively represented.
• An EU directive means the UK cannot remove VAT on condoms entirely.