Chancellor's Vat Reduction

[bigbanana]

I've just read about the Chancellor's VAT reduction for the hospitality sector. Seems to be lots of stuff about how staying in a hotel will be cheaper from next Wednesday. Attractions such as theme parks will also cost less. Does anyone know if this reduction will apply to hiring a narrowboat on a UK canal for a holiday too? It would be a holiday that includes accommodation after all in the same sense as a hotel room.
The major hirers such as Hoseseasons seem to be keeping schtum right now on how it will affect prices with no mention of the VAT change on their websites.

Thanks

[douglas9401]

I have a sneaking feeling that any tax reduction will be taken up by 'unavoidable price increases'.

It's the British way.

[ToraToraTora]

yep, I agree with goug, any VAT relief will not be passed on.

[ToraToraTora]

doug!

[Gromit]

The only reason companies will discount prices, is if there is no demand. But bookings are strong. They might possibly put up prices to recoup their losses over the past 3 months if demand is too great.

[Maydup]

The businesses will have heard the news at the same time as we did. They will need full details and time to make their decisions. However I doubt all the savings will all be passed on to the customer.

[gulliver1]

Meanwhile the over 75s have had their free tv licence taken away. Shame on this Government.

[Apc2604]

Gulliver, it's the BBC that made this decision. Boris was against it. And besides thst, your remark has nothing to do with the OP.

[gulliver1]

17.08 APC ,Well I bet sir David Clementi, who is a British Business Executive and at present, Chairman of BBC, and former Assistant Governer of the Bank of England aint a Labour Supporter. (get it).

[iluvmargie]

Agree with Apc about the licence fee, it's the BBC's decision and it's a rotten one.

[bednobs]

I don't think the savings will probably be passed on.
I don't get what's wrong with over 75s not getting free tv licence anymore. People over 75 are not necessarily poorer than people under 75, and in recent times have been protected from the effects of covid (probably didn't have a job to lose; didn't get a 20% cut in their benefits unlike people who have been furloughed; people who get pension credit will still get it free)

[iluvmargie]

Good for you bednobs, you have your opinion, I have mine.

[jno]

it was forced on the BBC by the government in the first place (Gordon Brown, I think), a sort of election bribe to be paid by the BBC and not the government, so it's not something that's been around for ever. Now the government is leaning on them to cut costs so they've had to remove it. If Boris wants it to stay, he could get the government to pay for it; but I bet he doesn't any more than Brown did.

[allenlondon]

jno’s explanation of how it was FORCED on the BBC will now be lost in the usual AB BBC bashing ritual. You can lead the stupid to water, but you can’t make them think.

[mushroom25]

// the over 75s have had their free tv licence taken away. //

on the face of it, correct - but not entirely. there will be a means test and those below the threshold will still get their licence gratis.

[gulliver1]

Thats good news then Mushroom.

[Deskdiary]

I don’t agree with free TV licences for everybody over 75 because it brings about absurdities that millionaires over 75 qualify, so means testing is the way to go.

But I do find it interesting that they can find £100m (I think that was the figure - happy to be corrected) for diversity.

[ToraToraTora]

17:01 Gulliver, the ABBC took that away, because they are primarily a LibFac organisation who hate old people because they mostly vote Tory. It's good to see you supporting Tory Voters, cheers me old china!

[Deskdiary]

It’s hardly surprising people over 75 vote Tory.

They would have been in their 30s when the last proper Labour Govt were in power so they lived through that utter car crash period.

[THECORBYLOON]

The decision was made in 2015 so it was the Tory Government and not Gordon Brown's doing.

Would the BBC's plan not have the advantage of encouraging more pensioners to claim Pension Credit, in order to avoid the licence fee?