More than £2.8m outstanding VAT debt in hospitality sector

A total of 79 hospitality and entertainment businesses have VAT debt over three months old, with more than £2.8m outstanding.

That's according to Treasury Minister Chris Thomas, in response to a Tynwald question for written reply from Douglas North MHK John Wannenburgh.

He wanted to know how many of the Island's 458 VAT-registered hospitality businesses were more than three months behind on their VAT returns.

Mr Thomas also gave figures for the business sector at the end of June, including hotels - which has 72 businesses with VAT debts older than three months, totalling nearly £2.4m.