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§ Mr. David Penhaligon (Truro)With your permission, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and that of the House, I wish to present a petition initiated by constituents of mine who are particularly concerned about the welfare of the elderly and the disabled. The petition contains 540 signatures, mainly those of constituents. Similar petitions containing many thousands of signatures have been presented to the Prime Minister. The petition reads:
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled.The humble Petition of residents of the United Kingdom sheweth—That the increased rate of VAT has considerably increased the financial burden on charities;That the Government is encouraging many charities, particularly those working with the elderly and disabled, to shoulder a greater share of the work in their sectors, and that this inevitably further increases the expenditure incurred by such charities.Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray that your Honourable House will introduce and approve such measures as may be necessary to exempt those charities which provide facilities for the elderly and disabled from VAT payments.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will every pray.
§ To lie upon the Table and to be printed.