§ Lord Brockwayasked Her Majesty's Government:
(1) Whether they will request the Charity Commissioners to reconsider the charity status of Eton College; (2) to state the amount the College saves per annum in subsidies on butter under the EEC scheme; and (3) to state whether the College still receives a subsidy on rates, and, if so, how much per annum, and, if not, when this subsidy ended and how much it was per annum.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Baroness Young)1. The Government have no wish to question the charitable status of Eton College, but it is in any case an exempt charity and not subject to the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners.
2. I cannot give a figure for the annual saving to the College from their participation in the EEC scheme for the sale of butter to non-profit making organisations. They will be paying roughly half the retail price, which is currently about 40p a 250 gramme-pack.
3. As a charity Eton College is entitled to receive 50 per cent. relief from rates and may be given more at 1043WA the discretion of the rating authority. The amounts in question are matters for the rating authority and are not notified to the Government,.