§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the operation of the 50 per cent. rebate scheme for voluntary sports clubs.
§ Mr. Denis HowellMy hon. Friend will appreciate that there is no national rebate scheme as such. Individual local authorities have discretionary powers under section 40(5)(c) of the General Rates Act 1967 to reduce or to waive entirely the payment of rates on recreational premises occupied by voluntary clubs.
This statutory discretion was reviewed by the Government some years ago, their conclusions being set out in paragraph 32 of the White Paper"Sport and Recreation "—Cmnd. 6200—published in August 1975.