Schedule 18 - Relief for community amateur sports clubs
Finance Bill
10:45 am
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham, Conservative)
I am disappointed by the Minister's response. I had hoped for a more substantive reason than that of simply mirroring the rules for charities. The vast majority of the spending of many community amateur sports clubs' is on qualifying purposes. Two clubs in my constituency to which I spoke said that 70 to 90 per cent. of their income is spent on qualifying purposes. Although that sample is small, I believe that it is representative of community amateur sports clubs elsewhere.
The clubs are under pressure from their members to ensure that membership subscriptions and income earned from bars are applied to the clubs' purpose, and to ensure that coaching and facilities allow members to enjoy the sports that they joined a club to participate in.
I really think that the measure places a disproportionate burden on sports clubs. The vast majority of clubs will spend the greater part of their money on qualifying purposes. They are under pressure to ensure that that happens because members are a very demanding group and they will ensure that money is spent properly in the interests of the club rather than on non-qualifying purposes.
I do not intend to press the amendment to a vote, although the Minister's response was disappointing. It will disappoint treasurers and sports clubs throughout the country who want help from the Government rather than a further layer of rules and bureaucracy. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Schedule 18 agreed to.
Clause 58 ordered to stand part of the Bill.