Next Monday, 3 March, MPs will debate a petition relating to VAT on independent school fees and business rates relief for independent schools.

On the UK Parliament website a message reads: “John Lamont MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. MPs from all parties can take part, and the Government will send a minister to respond:

“Don’t apply VAT to independent school fees, or remove business rates relief”

The petition, which has more than 114,000 signatures, states: “Prevent independent schools from having to pay VAT on fees and incurring business rates as a result of new legislation.”

In its response to the petition, provided on 20 December, the government said: “The Government will remove tax breaks for private schools. This will raise £1.8bn a year, helping to deliver the Government’s commitments for children in state schools.”

Petitions debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to government ministers. Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means MPs will not vote on the request of the petitions at the end of the debate. Instead, the aim is to give MPs an opportunity to discuss the issues raised by a petition, and get a response from the government.