The cost of labour in the UK is already a big enough disincentive to employ people to do anything, without the VAT component. However, a government like Labour, which seems intent on bleeding taxpayers dry, is hardly going to repeal any taxation, but rather dream up new ways to increase hardship

Ben Garside, Loughborough, UK

Most, if not all, domestic appliances have a finite working life built in through the compnents used. These might be bearings, switches or electronic compnents and the majority meet their expected span. No sensible individual is going to repair knowing the likelyhood of total failure.

mike gee, bournemouth, uk

Why would anyone call a plumber to mend a fridge or a washing machine? Surely you call an appliance engineer. I am a repairer, and very efficient too. Ain't going to fix your plumbing though. Typical half-thought thinking in the article, I'm afraid, The right people do the job right.

C, Chantrell, Yeadon, Yorkshire

Repairing domestic appliances is my job and the main problem in keeping the repair costs viable is the greatly inflated prices the manufacturers themselves charge for many spare parts. They clearly wish to discourage repair.

peter deaville, burton-on-trent,

I don't want to buy something cheap to repair. I want to buy something that will outlast the ridiculously short warranties. You know, like in the old days, before built in use-by dates.

Udo, Melbourne, Australia

A classic case of 'the blind leading the blind'.
The min-wage has virtually priced us out of the manufacturing and repair markets, and will continue to do so until a max-wage is applied, especially in the parasite occupations. i.e.
government and non-productive organisations.
I have a solution !

Arthur Marson, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

It's also about requiring manufacturers to stock/supply spare parts. I've thrown away easily repairable appliances because 'parts not available mate'. Manufacturers should have to guarantee parts will be available for 10 yrs from date of sale (and major components - pumps etc - a life of 5 yrs)

Clifford, Reading,

I've repaired many of the laptops I have owned (backlights, invertors), as the official repair scheme cost a minimum of 200 pounds. The hard part is knowing is finding where to buy the spare parts. Sometimes the cost of international delivery is more than the cost of the component itself.

Michael, Edinburgh,

Have any of their Lordships tried to find a repair shop recently.

Simon Marshland, Bath, UK

Hooray! Let's make the tax system even more complicated! Let's load even more paperwork on businesses and taxpayers! Who could possibly object?

Rowan, Hereford,

Absolutely agree - reduce VAT on repairs. We often forget REPAIRING when we think of REDUCE, RESUE and RECYCLE. Recycling should only be the last option after reusing and repairing.

Bill, Cockermouth, UK

Removing a tax - not sure Mr Brown will be able to comprehend.

A truly 'green' idea

Mike, Sole Street, England

Oh come on! Do you really think stopping the VAT will goad people into repair when the cost is equivelent to a replacement?

A better idea would be to force the councils to collect these products for free instead of charging for the right to recycle.

Paul Ritchie, Southampton,

If the government really cares, then it would curtail it's own foolish ways, especially jetting around the world for various meetings frequently,and also taking numerous hangers on - they would do video conferencing - it would save on CO2 emissions, and the cost to the tax paying British public

Chris, Coventry,

But the Govt. has been considering offering £1000 to scrap an old car and buy a new one - exactly the opposite principle. The best way to reduce the pollution from China is to stop buying new stuff. It's much greener to mend something than replace it - that includes cars.

Ian S., Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Why not rate each new product with a carbon / green rating so consumers can see how much harm is done during production? Same for a repair. Then consumers can make an informed choice.

Manufacturers could offer refurbishment facilities for old models to offset any drop in sales.

Everybody wins.

Dave W, London, UK

I know Ive commented before but one thing strikes me and that is this.
The current administration, and its puppet 2nd house, has shifted the burdon of responsibility from the manufactures to the consumers.
Once the Government decided what could be sold. (by regulaion: see cars) Why not now?

Phil Austin, RAUNDS, Albion