Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Charities Aid Foundation proposal to temporarily increase Gift Aid for two years, similar to the 2008 Gift Aid Transitional Relief Scheme, in order to support charities affected by the covid-19 pandemic.

The Government is fully committed to supporting charities through the Gift Aid regime. This relief is tied to the basic rate of tax paid by donors, currently at 20%, so can only be changed if the personal basic tax rate changes.

The Government recognises that the sector is experiencing significant pressures and has made available an unprecedented package of economic support, including a £750 million package specifically for charities.