§ 32. Mr. Hooleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will re-examine the impact of Selective Employment Tax on voluntary non-profit-making bodies which cannot secure recognition as charities.
§ Mr. DiamondNo, Sir. To give relief to bodies within this group would create insuperable difficulties of definition.
§ Mr. HooleyThis tax was a savage blow at many voluntary bodies and the increase will cause additional difficulties. Could not my right hon. Friend consider devising a system under which certification of exemption might be granted by appropriate Government Departments to those bodies which cannot satisfy the esoteric and queer criteria laid down by the Charity Commissioners?
§ Mr. DiamondSuch a form of certification is given by the Charity Commissioners. If they are unable to certify that a voluntary body is a charity, there must be very good reason for it.