V.A.T, in school fees

I think the main reason that private education is zero vat rated is to keep those who choose (and can afford) to go down that route happy. Jayanna9040 there is also a case to argue (not by me) that those who pay for private education are effectively saving the cost of educating their children via the LEA.

People who send their children probably pay taxes just like the rest of us. They are not using their 'share' of the education budget. I don't see why they should also have to pay for meals for other people's children. I am happy for those who really cannot afford school meals to have a free one but not everyone.

I'm not using the education service at all now, my children are adults, should I then not pay tax? I pay tax on the things I purchase like anyone else. If I have my roof fixed I pay VAT on it. Why should private education be VAT free it's a service like anything else.

It shouldn't be trisher .

Totally agree with your post Ginny

In terms of the principle of this policy - it seems as if the Labour Party is reverting to the old "politics of envy" and "hit the rich" - what a shame - it's so divisive.
In practical terms - I wonder whether they've thought it through and done a proper cost:benefit analysis? I.E. The VAT raised is supposed to cover the cost of the meals - so - What will be the total cost of these free meals? How many children are estimated to return to state education because of the 20% VAT and how much will that cost the state sector? How much VAT will be raised? Will it apply to zero-rated or to exempt institutions or to both? Will it be extended to include Universities & Colleges since they charge for tuition? VAT is a very complex tax - here is a link to a short explanation:
www.kingstonsmith.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Education+update_VAT+for+schools.pdf
We are facing big challenges ahead and the LP are troubling themselves with trivialities.

At my DGDs state primary in an inner London borough all the kids get a free meal. However, they both declare them "disgusting", you have to queue for ages by which time it's cold. Consequently they take take a packed lunch

There seems to be a supposition that all children want school meals, I didn't or the damn school milk for that matter, both were mandatory at the time. My children had the choice but often opted for packed lunches, they always had a cooked meal when they came home. My granddaughter has them and if she comes to ours as she occasionally does after school, I ask her what she had for lunch so I don't replicate it when I give her dinner, but she can't always remember, at least it hadn't made her sick. I'm all for free school meals and breakfast clubs being provided for children who need them and don't begrudge that at all. I don't see why they should be "free for all" if the parents have sufficient income. I think children should be asked whether they want to have them or not though. My nightmares about school dinners were an ever present part of my childhood, and I wouldn't say I was a fussy eater. I'm not sure what I think about Jeremy Corbyn's suggestion, some parents do scrimp and save to send their children to private school.

Meant to add- consequently I think free meals for all children a waste of money when schools have a budget crisis and are having to get rid of teachers.

VAT is often not a problem in state schools at all. The teachers who constantly buy supplementary supplies for their classes simply pay any necessary VAT in WH Smith (other stationers are available) shoulder that burden and get on with the job.

Terribull some of my memories were of vile school dinners and being forced to eat everything.
I don't suppose that happens these days and there will probably be a lot of waste.

Please bear in mind that the parent who pays school fees has already made a tax contribution to the state section.
A lot of kids do not want school dinner, even if free.
Is this the best Labour can do?
In the very unlikely event of this coming about, some smart accountant could work around paying it,

Thankfully Jalima I think forcing children to eat things they don't want to (sometimes until they gagged) is a thing of the past. I regard what we had to put up with as child abuse. Jeremy Corbyn's preferred culinary choice, according to an ex wife, is beans eaten straight from the can cold allegedly...mmmmm! Quite irrelevant to the OP but I thought I'd just throw it in to give us all a measure of how highly he rates food

This is rich-bashing and despicable as it targets the education of children.

It all sounds a bit like Nero fiddling as Rome burns.

How about putting up v.a.t on take-aways (oops,sorry,been there) to fund these unwanted school dinners,

labourlist.org/2017/04/corbyn-launches-tax-raid-on-private-schools-to-fund-free-lunches-for-all-primary-pupils/

Just so you know what was said.

"Norah, I have struggled to pay fir my three grandchildren to have tuition, vat added would mean I couldn't afford the fees."

For private schools, Annie?

If this is private one-to-one tuition, it's unlikely the tutor is VAT registered, unless it's through a big agency.

So - what about the parents who will have to pay VAT on private school fees in Wales and Scotland and presumably NI to fund free school dinners for English state school pupils?

It doesn't seem to be very well thought out.

I think it sounds like a really good idea. Children's school performance has improved where free meals have been provided. My children has free school meals when I was a student until Mrs Thatcher made free meals only available to children whose parents were on income support. They made a big difference to my finances because I knew that they were getting a cooked meal at lunchtime which meant I didn't always have to provide a big cooked meal at tea time. I have since paid taxes and my children are all now paying taxes. A bit of help from the state early on can reap rewards for the state later on.
It always amazes me when people think scrimping and saving means going without holidays, meals out, new cars etc. That's not what scrimping and saving meant to me.
Children do not suffer if they don't go to private school, but they do suffer if they don't get proper food.
I also don't like this attitude of "don't have children if you can't afford them" Children are a gift to the country, not a burden. Plus,it certainly is not the fault of the children if their parents can't afford them, isn't there a saying about not visiting the sins of the father on the children

"Corbyn and Rayner, shadow education secretary, will cite research from the National Centre for Social Research and the Institute for Fiscal Studies which, he says, shows that making access to free school meals a universal entitlement improves pupils’ performance and allowing them to advance by “around two months on average”.

Jalima, it doesn't say English schools only.

There will many jobs going if this came into force, all those dinner ladies making sure the children eat up their free dinners so their performance will be enhanced , I assume those who will not eat school dinners will be forced to do so

This was Thersa May's response when asked if it was a good idea.

"Schools would find themselves in a parlous condition if Labour were in government because of the way they would be running the economy.”
What sort of state does she think they are in now under her government?