§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord Gainford asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ How the level of charitable giving has changed since 1979.
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, figures published by the Charities Aid Foundation show that charitable giving has increased steadily. Between 1979 and 1987 the voluntary income of the top 200 charities has almost doubled in real terms, having risen from about £ 228 million to over £ 900 million.
§ Lord GainfordMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for those encouraging figures. Does the figure of £ 900 million represent the total amount of charitable giving?
§ Viscount UllswaterNo, my Lords. It represents the voluntary income of the top 200 charities. The total is estimated to be very much higher. The Charity Household Survey of 1988 to 1989 suggests that donations to charity amount to between £ 3 and £ 4–5 billion. Yesterday's Budget has given considerable encouragement to charitable giving.
§ Lord MishconMy Lords, has it escaped the attention of the noble Viscount that since 1979 there has been a greater need for charity among people who before that date did not need it?
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, I think the noble Lord refers to statutory provision. It is the view of this Government that the voluntary charitable sector complements what the statutory sector does but does not replace it. We see the voluntary, statutory and indeed private sectors as partners.
§ Viscount WhitelawMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that, as Chairman of the Council for Charity Support, I can tell him, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Members of all parties that all charities will greatly welcome the measures that the Chancellor announced in his Budget yesterday?
§ Viscount UllswaterMy Lords, I know that the noble Viscount speaks from considerable experience. I welcome the comments that he has made.