Rachel Reeves announces cheaper theme park tickets and children's meals

[dutchman]

...as VAT to be cut for some attractions this summer



Ticket prices for families at various attractions such as theme parks, zoos and museums will be cheaper during the summer holidays through a cut to VAT, the chancellor has said.

Rachel Reeves announced a temporary reduction in VAT from 20% to 5% from when schools break up in Scotland at the end of June until children return to classrooms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 1 September.

The discount, which will be up to businesses to pass on to customers, will also apply to children's entry to cinemas, soft play and theatres, as well as children's meals in restaurants and cafes.

The VAT cut was part of a flurry of government policy announcements aimed at easing cost of living pressures.

As well as the cut in VAT on tickets for family days out, the chancellor announced free bus journeys for under-16s in England in August and cuts to import taxes on some basic foods under a "Great British Summer Savings" campaign.

"I recognise that what matters for families is not just getting by, but being able to enjoy time together without worrying about the next bill," Reeves said, adding it was also about supporting the hospitality sector.

The scheme announcement comes as households are experiencing rising fuel prices at the pumps, and are bracing themselves for higher energy and food bills due to the war in Iran disrupting supply chains.

It is also an attempt by the government to wrestle back control of the political agenda as the uncertainty surrounding the Prime Minister's future continues.

Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank, said the measures would lead to some savings, but estimated they would equate to an "average saving of around £10 per UK household".

The reduced rate to 5% this summer will apply to:

• Children's menu meals served in restaurants for consumption on the premises
  
  
• Children's and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions
  
  
• Admission tickets for both children and adults for attractions including amusement parks, fairs, museums, zoos, soft play centres, circuses, adventure parks, nature reserves, wildlife parks and observation attractions

Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said although the government's measures on the cost of living would make a "real difference", it was not what people were struggling financially with now, such as energy debt.

"The people coming to us every 30 seconds in crisis aren't just worrying about August, they're already struggling now and fear things will only get worse as winter hits," she said.

Mel Stride, Conservative shadow chancellor, responded to Reeves's statement saying if she "serious about the challenges we face, she would commit to getting spending down, tackling the benefits bill, getting taxes down to strenghen our economy".

Dr Ellie Chowns, leader of the parliamentary Green Party, said if the chancellor needed to "think far beyond a 'summer savings scheme' which does nothing to address soaring energy bills, sky-high housing costs, and crumbling public services".

Robert Jenrick, Reform UK treasury's spokesman, said the measures were "small change for families that are really struggling right now". "We need radical reductions to the cost of living, not tinkering - starting by Reeves slashing taxes on energy bills," he added.