HC Deb 14 July 1971 vol 821 c117W
Mr. Sproat

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what groups of persons performing voluntary public service are paid, or given allowances, out of sums raised by charity ; what are those allowances or payments ; and which are tax-free ;

(2) what group of persons performing unpaid voluntary duties receive allowances that are not tax free ; and what is his estimate of the approximate cost to the Treasury of making these allowances tax free, broken down by groups ;

(3) how many groups of persons performing unpaid voluntary duties receive tax-free allowances in respect of those duties ; what are those groups; and what is the cost to the Treasury of not collecting tax on those allowances, broken down by groups.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Payments in respect of services are taxable as remuneration, but allowances in reimbursement of expenses or loss of earnings incurred by persons performing unpaid voluntary duties are non-taxable. The yield that would accrue from taxing such allowances cannot be estimated.

The other information for which my hon. Friend asks is not available.

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