Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing VAT on personal hygiene products in the context of the rising cost of living.

A zero rate of VAT has applied to women’s sanitary products since 1 January 2021. This applies to those products which were previously subject to the reduced rate of 5 per cent, for example, tampons and pads, and to reusable menstrual products, such as keepers.

Although there are currently no plans to remove VAT on all personal hygiene products, the Government keeps all taxes under review and welcomes representations to help inform future decisions on tax policy, as part of the tax policy making cycle and Budget process.

The Government recognises the pressures that families across the UK are currently facing with the cost of living. The Government’s Energy Price Guarantee will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas so that a typical household in Great Britain pays, on average, around £2,500 a year on their energy bill, for the next 2 years, from 1 October 2022. The consumer saving will be based on usage, but on average usage a household will save £1,000 a year (based on current prices from October). This comes in addition to the £37 billion cost of living support previously announced, which will provide millions of the most vulnerable households with £800 support through the £150 Council Tax rebate and one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment, with additional support for pensioners and those claiming disability benefits.