§ Sir SAMUEL ROBERTSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of public hospitals which have during the War treated wounded soldiers gratuitously issuing an appeal for donations in order to wipe off debts, any donation made by companies in response to the appeal may be deducted from their assessment for Excess Profits Duty?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWGeneral donations to hospitals and for other charitable purposes are not admissible deductions in computing liability to Income Tax and Excess Profits Duty. I may remind my hon. Friend that the legal recognition of such payments as admissible deductions would involve the consequence that the larger proportion thereof would in effect be a contribution by the State, and, as he will realise, it is most desirable that Grants by the State should be made in a direct form.