Teacher transport loophole could be scrapped

Teachers are the only profession excluded from having access to salary sacrifice car schemes, as they are not specified in the Government's School Teacher Pay and Conditions Document (STCPD).

Under the schemes, workers can buy a new, insured car before tax and National Insurance are paid, which campaigners believe could save up to £1,300 for someone on an average income.

Education secretary Nicky Morgan said when challenged on the issue that “the Government will consider whether the issue should be included in future referrals to the School Teachers’ Review Body”.

David Hosking, chief executive of Tusker, which manages salary sacrifice car schemes, said: “We are delighted that the government are planning to consider ending the exclusion of teachers in Rotherham from salary sacrifice car schemes.

“As a provider of these schemes, we’ve been approached on countless occasions by teachers who have told us it is extremely unfair that they can’t use a voluntary car scheme and the help of MPs will go a long way to changing that.”

MPs recently attended a campaign event in Parliament to call for a change to the national rule excluding teachers, while more than 1,250 teachers have backed the campaign on an online petition which can be found at http://bitly.com/1v2zt5d.