The new Labour government is considering exempting military families from plans to impose VAT on independent school fees, The Telegraph has reported.

In an email sent last week to a parent concerned about Labour’s VAT policy, Ian Murray, the new secretary of state for Scotland, said: “I have two bits of information which may be of use. Firstly, it is unlikely that VAT will be added to school fees until 25/26 academic year… Secondly, I think there will be some recognition of the Armed Forces Covenant as there will for those pupils who have special education needs.”

Labour has already exempted children with an Education, Health and Care Plan from the policy.

Murray added that he was feeding in concerns put forward by military families likely to be affected by the plans.

In January Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary and now the education secretary, suggested that Armed Forces personnel could be exempt from the VAT policy, saying of the rules: “There are ways in which they can be carefully drawn to ensure that exemptions apply.”