Military Wives Choir single VAT cash to go to charities

Tax raised from the sales of a hit single will be donated to armed forces' charities, the Chancellor has said.

Wherever You Are was written for Gareth Malone's Military Wives Choir, whose husbands served in Afghanistan.

The song is the fastest-selling single for six years and is tipped to be the Christmas number one single.

A Treasury spokeswoman said a VAT equivalent donation to the charities benefiting from the Military Wives single would be made.

Chancellor George Osborne said: "Our armed forces demonstrate incredible commitment to the nation and make sacrifices for all of us.

"The Military Wives Choir is doing a great job of raising money for this hugely worthy cause.

The Military Wives Choir, featured in the BBC Two television programme The Choir.

"We will donate the tax collected on the single so that as much as possible of the money spent by the public on this fantastic song goes to charities helping our armed forces and their families this Christmas," he added.

Oliver Colvile, Conservative MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, originally asked the Treasury to donate the VAT to the choir's chosen charities.

Proceeds from the sale of the single will go to the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association (SSAFA).

The Military Wives Choir, featured in the BBC Two television programme The Choir, is made up of about 100 wives and girlfriends from RMB Chivenor in north Devon and Plymouth.

Their husbands and partners spent six months earlier this year in Afghanistan as part of 3 Commando Brigade and the song is based on letters sent and received during the deployment.