HC Deb 07 March 2002 vol 381 c527W
Mr. Swire

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 13 February 2002,Official Report, column 409W, on sports clubs, (1) on what evidence base the Government drew up proposals for reforming the system of rate relief for voluntary sports clubs contained in the White Paper, "Strong Local Leadership-Quality Public Services"; [39971]

(2) whether official figures on rateable values define non-profit making sports bodies as a distinct category; and on what evidence the Government drew up the proposals for reforming the system of rate relief for voluntary sports clubs contained in the White Paper, "Strong Local Leadership-Quality Public Services". [39975]

Dr. Whitehead

I have been asked to reply.

Rateable values for all non-domestic properties are published in the rating list for each billing authority in England. These indicate the type of each property, but do not record information about the occupiers of those properties. Sporting properties are identified by a number of categories, including bowling greens, clubhouses, cricket grounds/pitches, pavilions, golf courses, polo grounds, sports grounds, tennis courts/clubs, football grounds, football pitches, rugby union grounds. However, the rating lists do not show whether or not the occupiers of those properties are non-profit making sports bodies.

The proposals on rate relief for voluntary sports clubs in the White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services", follow consultation in the Green Paper, "Modernising Local Government Finances", which was published in September 2000. They are based on discussions with sports representative bodies and representations from many individual sports clubs. The White Paper proposals also take account of the decision of the Charity Commission, announced on 30 November 2001, to recognise community amateur sports clubs for charitable status. Both the White Paper proposals on rates and the Charity Commission announcement took account of evidence proved by the sports bodies and other sports clubs.