In February 2015 Guto Bebb got behind the Cars for Teachers campaign. The campaign calls for teachers to be treated equally and given access to salary sacrifice car schemes like other public sector employees. Salary sacrifice car schemes, or green car schemes as they are known because they are environmentally friendly, allow employees to acquire a brand new, fully maintained and insured car through their salary, before income tax and NI are paid, which allows for average annual savings of around £1300 a year, compared to similar retail deals. At times when wages in teaching are stagnating, this £1300 annual saving could be a huge improvement to many teachers’ personal finances. Overall, these schemes are tax positive to the Exchequer, which is especially important during a time of fiscal restraint.
Secretary of State for Education, The Rt. Hon. Nicky Morgan MP will be reviewing teachers’ benefits in the upcoming School Teachers’ Review Body this autumn. Guto commented, “This is a great opportunity to ensure ensure teachers have equal access to salary sacrifice car schemes. They will make a noticeable difference to teachers’ incomes, without requiring an increase in spending. I hope the secretary of state will look favourably upon this important campaign.”
Fis Chwefror 2015 ymunodd Guto Bebb â’r ymgyrch Ceir i Athrawon. Ymgyrch yw hon sy’n galw am i athrawon gael eu trin fel gweithwyr eraill yn y sector cyhoeddus a chael mynediad i gynlluniau aberthu cyflog ar gyfer car. (Caiff y cynlluniau hyn hefyd eu hadnabod fel cynlluniau ceir gwyrdd am eu bod yn amgylcheddol gyfeillgar.) Maent yn galluogi gweithwyr i brynu car newydd sbon allan o’u cyflog, cyn didyniadau treth ac Yswiriant Gwladol, gan arbed oddeutu £1300 y flwyddyn. Ar adeg pan nad yw cyflogau’n codi byddai arbediad o’r fath yn hwb mawr i incwm athrawon. Ar y cyfan mae cynlluniau o’r fath yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar y Trysorlys ac mewn cyfnod o gyni arianol mae hyn hefyd yn ystyriaeth bwysig.
Bydd Nicky Morgan AS, yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol dros Addysg, yn adolygu budd-daliadau athrawon yn yr hydref. Dywedodd Guto, “Dyma gyfle gwych i sicrhau bod athrawon yn cael mynediad i gynlluniau aberthu cyflog ar gyfer car. Byddai hyn yn gwella eu cyflogau heb orfod cynyddu gwariant. Rwy’n gobeithio y bydd yr Ysgrifennydd Gwladol o blaid yr ymgyrch bwysig hon.”