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Question from: County Councillor Matthew Dorrance Subject: PPE
Question:
Face Masks and other PPE items will cost more next month because the UK Government is ending a VAT break on the now essential products.
This will make it harder for people to follow the rules and more expensive for people with less money to protect themselves.
What will the Council do to ensure that residents in Powys are not stopped from accessing PPE because they simply can’t afford it?
Minutes: Response by the Portfolio Holder:
As you rightly point out it is important that sufficient PPE is available for all our residents to ensure that they are protected from COVID.
This clearly needs to be available irrespective of income and should not be a barrier to those worse off in our society.
All such policy areas are at the discretion of either the Welsh Government or the UK Government and not directly a matter for Powys CC. An example would be the increase in the value of Universal Credit by £20/week.
I will ensure that the matters are raised as appropriate at meetings I attend on behalf of Powys with both governments.
I am always open to suggestions on such matters but will need to ensure that any such initiative brought forward is universal, equitable and of course fully funded.
In the meantime, if you are aware of any specific cases please do not hesitate to contact me.
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