Tories Owe £140million to Scotland's Emergency Services

TORIES OWE £140 MILLION TO SCOTLAND’S EMERGENCY SERVICES THERESA MAY TOLD TO PAY UP FOR POLICE SCOTLAND AND END VAT DISCRIMINATION The SNP has demanded that the Tories pay up what they owe to Scotland’s Police and Fire services after withholding £140m over the last 4 years. Scottish emergency services are the only ones in the UK unable to reclaim their VAT bills, taking vital funds away from our frontline police and fire services, whilst the UK Treasury keeps the money. Police Scotland alone has lost out on nearly £100 million of additional revenue in the last four years. The Tories’ stubborn refusal to budge on this issue shows just how little they care about making sure our emergency services have the resources they need to protect Scottish society. SNP candidate for North Ayrshire & Arran, Patricia Gibson said:

“This last week has reminded all of us how much we value our emergency services and the job that they do. “That’s why it is an absolute disgrace that the Tories are holding back nearly £100m that could be being spent on our police force and a further £40m for our fire service. "If Scotland is an 'equal partner' in the UK then we should be treated as such. “By the end of the next Parliament that will be £280 million if the Tories don’t do the right thing by our police. “The police in England have criticised Tory cuts to police numbers - 20,000 having been lost - while in Scotland we have protected our police force. Nevertheless, the Tories still refuse to allow the Scottish emergency services to reclaim VAT which takes vital funds away from our frontline services. “It is clear that the Tories cannot be trusted to deliver for Scotland’s emergency services and are guilty of taking £140 million away from our police and fire services." SNP Campaign Manager Derek Mackay added:

“The SNP has taken this issue all the way to the Chancellor. At this election voters across Scotland can tell the Tories to pay up for our police and give our emergency services the money they are due.”