Chancellor rejects calls to remove VAT from defibrillators
Rishi Sunak had been facing calls to make the life-saving devices cheaper.
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is claiming removing VAT from defibrillators would add pressure to public finances.
He has rejected calls from a cross-party group of MSPs to make the life saving devices cheaper for communities to buy.
SNP MSP Jenni Minto is extremely disappointed.
She told Forth 1: "Everybody in Holyrood was of the view that this would be a sensible way forward.
"I think we need to bear in mind the monetary terms, but also human terms, of the cost of cardiac arrests outside of hospital.
"I think defibrillators are one of those areas where tax relief could reduce spend in other areas."
Jenni adds that politicians need to hear stories of the key moments defibrillators have made a difference and then they will perhaps change their mind on the matter.
She said: "There are so many advantages to having these machines networked across both our urban and rural communities."