Pasty Madness Options

[sanitynotincluded]

Is it just me, or does anyone else object to being treated as a moron by the BBC?

I have no objection to considering the extension of VAT to hot pasties, sausage rolls et c. on its merits, indeed I am more than a little sympathetic to the criticism, but the BBC are trotting out this ridiculous notion ( except for Engelbert's pile of shit you hear little else on radio two) that it is somehow too difficult for shops to decide whether they have sold a hot or a cold devonian pasty.

We managed to establish that Jaffa Cakes are non vatable without the world coming to an end, so why should it be any harder for a shop to determine whether it has heated said iitem since it was baked or taken measures to keep it hot if baked on site. Do the beeb think that we're stupid enough to fall for it? (are we indeed stupid enough to fall for it?) or are they just desperate?

[naughtiesrival]

Is it just me, or does anyone else object to being treated as a moron by the BBC?

I have no objection to considering the extension of VAT to hot pasties, sausage rolls et c. on its merits, indeed I am more than a little sympathetic to the criticism, but the BBC are trotting out this ridiculous notion ( except for Engelbert's pile of shit you hear little else on radio two) that it is somehow too difficult for shops to decide whether they have sold a hot or a cold devonian pasty.

We managed to establish that Jaffa Cakes are non vatable without the world coming to an end, so why should it be any harder for a shop to determine whether it has heated said iitem since it was baked or taken measures to keep it hot if baked on site. Do the beeb think that we're stupid enough to fall for it? (are we indeed stupid enough to fall for it?) or are they just desperate?

Are you joking, Jaffa cakes and M&S tea cakes went through about 7 different court cases over 15 years or so to come t o that conclusion. The issue here is the strong Gregg's lobbying effort and an attempt by Labour to stir up some action. The question of whether "ambient" food is treated the same as cold or hot is a valid question but probably should have been an administrative rather than political matter. Mpersonally, I think they are eaten in substitution for sandwiches, wraps and salads rather than hot take away and the change should not have been made.

[sanitynotincluded]

Are you joking, Jaffa cakes and M&S tea cakes went through about 7 different court cases over 15 years or so to come t o that conclusion.

That was rather my point. The matter was resolved without the world coming to an end, and with very little by way of confusion in the supermarket aisles.

The question of whether "ambient" food is treated the same as cold or hot is a valid question but probably should have been an administrative rather than political matter.

If HMRC issued guidance along the lines that if the shop had actively heated the item, or kept it hot then it applied and that if they had not taken any active steps to that end it didnot then it is relatively straight forward. In other words ovens, microwaves, heat lamps, heated cabinets et c. you pay it, left on a shelf in the sun and you don't. My complaint was not with questioning the wisdom of the policy (or the complete lack thereof) it was with the beebs attempts to suggest that the policy would lead to mass confusion in every bakery and convenience store from Bognor Regis to Pitlochry.