School uniform is only VAT exempt on sizes the Government judges would fit children under the age of 14. This out-of-date tax ruling, dating back to the 1940s, ignores real differences in child sizes. Many 11-13 year olds are tall for their age and require uniforms that the Government deems suitable for a 15-year-old. Furthermore, as an estimated 33% of the UK's 11-15 year olds are currently overweight or obese, the status quo ignores legitimate variances in size whilst also disadvantaging those from the lower socio-economic groups, who suffer the highest incidence of weight problems.

The Schoolwear Association, whose members supply uniforms to 75% of UK Schools, believes this state of affairs must change; consequently the trade body for the school-specific uniform industry is campaigning to cut VAT from 17.5% to 5% on all items of upper body, badged school uniform items. Once implemented, this initiative could collectively save parents around £4million each year. Seen in light of the Government's education budget in 2008 of £82 billion, or even the Government's social protection budget of £169 billion, this is comparatively a small amount.

Conservative MP Nigel Evans has demonstrated support for the campaign and tabled Early Day Motion 1118 on 5th March to draw attention to it. The Motion was co-supported by Labour MP Greg Pope and Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik and has received widespread support not only from the three major political parties but also from independent MPs, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, the Scottish National Party, the Democratic Unionist Party, and the Respect party.

Schoolwear Association Chair Donald Moore says: "As an Association, which represents a significant percentage of the school uniform industry and supplies 75% of UK schools, we strongly believe that the benefits school-specific uniform can bring should not be diminished by punitive taxation. We are delighted that so many MPs have signed the Early Day Motion in support of our campaign and we hope further MPs will also be encouraged to sign the Motion to help us put pressure on the Government to improve the affordability of uniforms. The Government has voiced its support for school uniforms but it is now time for them to turn these words into actions."

To join the Schoolwear Association visit http://www.schoolwearassociation.co.uk/

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