HC Deb 20 May 1991 vol 191 cc358-60W
Mr. Pendry

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his best estimate of the amount of money that has been provided to Vauxhall Conference clubs through the pools betting duty for each of the past 10 years and as a total over the same period.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

[holding answer 17 May 1991]: None. Pool betting duty was reduced in 1990 on condition that the whole of the amount saved would be passed onto the Football Trust 1990 and spent on ground improvements of clubs in the Football League and the Scottish Football League and on the three national stadiums—Wembley, Hampden Park and Windsor Park.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to render clubs in the Vauxhall Conference eligible for financial aid via the revenue provided as a result of the reduction in the football pools betting duty announced in the 1990 Budget; if he will state the proportion of revenue provided through pools betting duty for which clubs in the Vauxhall Conference are eligible to apply; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

[holding answer 17 May 1991]: I do not intend to make clubs in the Vauxhall Conference eligible to benefit from the reduction in pool betting duty announced in the 1990 budget. They receive no such support at present. They are, of course, eligible for support from the Football Trust 1990 provided the finance comes from other sources, such as donations resulting from the spotting-the-ball competition.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his best estimate of the total amount of money raised in football pools betting duty from matches played in the Vauxhall Conference or its predecessor league for each of the past 10 years and as a total over the same period.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

[holding answer 17 May 1991]: I am unable to make any estimate, as pool betting duty is charged on aggregate weekly stakes regardless of the individual events to which the stakes relate.