GIFT AID

That this House believes that the 2007 Budget is in danger of severely disadvantaging charitable organisations; notes with concern that while reducing basic rate income tax by 2p is welcome in itself, the value of Gift Aid to charities will be reduced by a predicted £71 million nationally, from £625 million to £554 million; further notes with concern that smaller charities face as much as a 10 per cent. decline in their Gift Aid income; and calls on the Government to look into ways to alleviate this loss of income and respond immediately so as not to disadvantage the many hardworking and highly beneficial charities across the UK.