HC Deb 07 March 1967 vol 742 cc1237-8
11. Mr. Judd

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tax rebates have been made to public schools in each of the years 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966; and what is the estimate for 1967.

Mr. MacDermot

I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Judd

Does my hon. and learned Friend agree, if it were necessary to have to agree, that by no stretch of the imagination can these exclusive institutions be described as charities and that the Government should give early priority to defining the meaning of a charity in law?

Mr. MacDermot

That is a separate question, not for my right hon. Friend. It would be an invidious task for my right hon. Friend to have to pick and choose between different charities.

Mr. Evelyn King

Whatever may be the social arguments, is it not abundantly clear on financial grounds that these schools save the taxpayers far more than the schools could ever get in rebates?