Tax-free shopping debate to head to Parliament
Calls to bring back tax-free shopping for international tourists will finally be heard in Parliament.
The treasury will hear from MPs backing the ‘Scrap the Tourist Tax’ in a 90-minute debate in Westminster Hall on 7 September.
The UK is currently the only country in Europe which does not offer tax-free shopping for international visitors after the scheme was scrapped following the finalisation of its exit from the EU in 2020.
The debate will be opened by Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who has led the campaign in Westminster on behalf of the Association of International Retail (AIR) and the New West End Company (NWEC).
He said: “It is really important that this subject is thoroughly debated in Parliament, which will hopefully send a strong message to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn statement.”
NWEC chief executive and chair of the AIR, Dee Corsi, added: “The ‘tourist tax’ has already had a negative effect on many businesses in the West End and beyond, as retailers, hospitality, and leisure providers grapple with the loss of spend being diverted across the [British] Channel.
“Despite the return of international visitors, spending data consistently shows that Britain is underperforming when compared to the rest of Europe.
“This runs contrary to the Treasury’s previous assessment that ending tax-free shopping would have limited impact on international traveller behaviour.”
A number of figures in the retail industry have previously called on the chancellor to bring back tax-free shopping for tourists, including the boss of Mulberry and the head of the Marble Arch Business Improvement District.