§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of charitable donations for which tax relief was given in each of the last 15 years.
§ Mr. MaudeThe available information is as follows:
Commission's modified proposal, 6925/91, and subsequent discussions in the Council. The proposal is for a directive—the remedies directive—to ensure compliance with the procurement procedures applicable to the utilities in the energy, telecommunications, transport and water sectors under Council directive 90/531/EEC. Both directives are to be brought into effect in most member states by 1 January 1993. In the form in which it is likely to be adopted the remedies directive will involve the same basic system as Council directive 89/665/EEC, the parallel provision for ensuring compliance with the supplies and works directives by the public bodies to which they apply. Suppliers and contractors harmed by a breach of Community procurement law, or the national rules which implement it, will be able to seek remedies from the courts. It is too soon to estimate the likely number of cases and thus to estimate the costs to the court system. There will be some administrative costs in providing information to the Commission about alleged breaches and in establishing an attestation system under which the utilities may voluntarily subject their procurement procedures and practices to independent examination and certification. There may also be minor administrative costs in forwarding to the Commission applications for the use of a voluntary conciliation procedure. There will be additional costs to the Commission in monitoring compliance with the underlying procurement directive and the Commission has now estimated that the expenses of advisory committee discussions on the present proposal will be of the order of £13,000 a year. There would be additional costs for the European Court of Justice if an increased number of references to it under article 177/EEC resulted from the directive. Costs to the utilities will depend on the number of cases taken to court and can be avoided by compliance with the underlying procurement directive. The Council's rejection of a Commission 601W proposal for compulsory attestation has removed a significant potential cost for the utilities. Last minute amendments to the provisions for the conciliation procedure as an alternative to litigation will put the costs on the parties concerned.