§ John BarrettTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps his Department is taking to make heritage and conservation charities aware of his plans to amend Gift Aid rules on day memberships; [164472]
(2) if he will postpone his plans to amend Gift Aid rules on day memberships to allow heritage and conservation charities to make appropriate amendments to their financial and other plans; [164473]
(3) what deadlines have been set for the proposed consultation on his plans to amend Gift Aid rules on day memberships; [164474]
1353W(4) which organisations his Department intends to consult over plans to amend Gift Aid rules on day memberships; [164475]
(5) what estimate he has made of the number of heritage and conservation charities that will be affected by his Department's proposals to amend gift aid rules on day memberships; [164476]
(6) if he will estimate the additional Treasury revenue that would be raised in each of the next three years from his Department's proposed amendment to Gift Aid rules on day memberships. [164477]
§ John HealeyThe Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in this year's Budget that the Government will continue to consult with charities to develop a new definition of the special statutory exemption from the Gift Aid rules for heritage and conservation charities.
The Inland Revenue has since written to all charities and representative bodies who participated in the first stages of consultation following last year's pre-Budget report. A copy of this letter has also been posted on the Inland Revenue website. Charities have until 11 June to contribute to this extended consultation.
The Government aim to announce the results of the consultation around the time of the Spending Review giving charities the opportunity to take account of the changes in their financial planning[...]
It is not possible to establish the number of charities that might be affected by, nor the revenue effect of, any changes which might be proposed following this consultation since charities are not required to differentiate on their Gift Aid claims the amounts they are claiming for 'day membership' income from other amounts they are claiming. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Wiggin) on 15 January 2004, Official Report, columns 865–66W.