VAT on private school fees challenges are thrown out

PRIVATE schools, pupils and their parents have lost three High Court challenges over the imposition of VAT on fees. The actions against the Treasury claimed the policy is discriminatory and incompatible with human rights law.

- By Jess Glass

High Court judges dismissed the challenges yesterday in a decision that said while the legislation does interfere with some groups' human rights, there is a "broad margin of discretion in deciding how to balance the interests of those adversely affected by the policy against the interests of others who may gain from public p