Bestway boss hits out at ‘potentially dangerous’ government decision to end PPE tax holiday

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The boss of Bestway Wholesale has criticised the government’s “potentially dangerous” decision to end the tax holiday on personal protection equipment (PPE).

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The Treasury has confirmed that the zero Vat rate arrangement for PPE, which includes items such as masks and gloves, will end on Saturday (31 October) – a decision that has upset Dawood Pervez, managing director of Bestway Wholesale.

He labelled it a “surprising and potentially dangerous move that will be of considerable concern both to retailers and to the general public”.

Pervez said: “Right now, there is a significant amount of PPE stock in the market as retailers and wholesalers have built up stocks in advance of winter and increasing Covid-19 infections.

“A clear objective of the industry – and government – has been to ensure retailers and their teams all stay safe, and to keep PPE in strong evidence on shelves up and down the country in order to protect consumers and ensure there is no repeat of shortages seen earlier in the year.

“An increase of 20% is a significant amount, and it is a surprising move if we all wish to keep safe and control the pandemic.

“There is little doubt that increases in price will slow demand and act as a barrier to buy PPE for some, at a time when many peoples’ income has been reduced due to the pandemic, and every penny in their shopping basket counts.”