Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 23 July 2007.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Andy Reed Andy Reed Labour, Loughborough 2:30, 23 July 2007

As my hon. Friend knows, I have taken a keen interest in the matter since I introduced my ten-minute Bill in 2000. The Government caved in two years later and included the provision in the Budget. It has been worth about £19 million, but is he aware—he hinted at this—that that probably involves only about 10 per cent. of the clubs that are eligible for the scheme? The form is probably one of the simplest that the Inland Revenue has ever produced. Will he work with local authorities, in particular—because they have the ability to push the message to sports clubs in their areas—to ensure that people know that there is a tax benefit, money is available and the process is easy to undertake? He should encourage everybody up and down the country to play their part. I encourage Members to try to write to every sports club in their area to achieve wider coverage.