Benn meets Free Presbyterian Church on school fee taxes

The NIO said Hilary Benn had given serious consideration to the points raised

Representatives from the Free Presbyterian Church have met Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn over Labour's plans to tax school fees.

Independent Christian schools in Northern Ireland are among those set to be affected by the VAT changes.

VAT at the standard rate of 20% will be added to private school fees from 1 January 2025.

In Northern Ireland, grammar school preps and Christian and other independent schools charge fees.

Many have expressed concerns that they will have to charge parents more if the change comes into effect.

Benn met members of the Education Board of the Free Presbyterian Church at Brownlow House in Lurgan, County Armagh.

They included the Reverend Brian McClung, the Reverend Darryl Abernethy and the Reverend John Greer.

The meeting was arranged by the Democratic Unionist Party MP Carla Lockhart.

The Free Presbyterian representatives told Benn about their "concerns" over Labour's plans.

They also said they could affect churches.

The Reverend John Greer is on the Education Board of the Free Presbyterian Church

"Free Presbyterian Christian schools are run as an integral part of local churches," a church spokesperson said.

"Therefore, one chief concern presented to Mr Benn was that the imposition of VAT on Free Presbyterian schools would mean that churches with attached schools would also have to register for VAT and charge the tax on additional services provided by the churches."

"It was also pointed out that the proposed taxation would place a very heavy burden on parents who are already sacrificing to have their children receive the education that the Christian schools offer."

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Office confirmed that the meeting and taken place and said that the secretary of state had noted the delegation's concerns.

The VAT changes to school fees are set to be confirmed in the forthcoming budget.

But Education Minister Paul Givan has previously said fee-paying schools were different in Northern Ireland from those in England and should not be subject to value-added tax (VAT).

South Antrim MP Robin Swann, of the Ulster Unionist Party, previously told Parliament that adding the "VAT fee to a religious-based school deprives the protected characteristic of religious belief".