Gift Aid idea 'was not buried - we just have different view'
POLICY & RESOURCES did not dismiss or bury a report on Gift Aid, the States social policy lead has said, as she rebutted claims made by Association of Guernsey Charities vice-president Peter Rose.
Jane Stephens’ comments follow Mr Rose’s speech to the Institute of Directors last week, during which he called for government to make changes to help charities such as setting up a better Gift Aid system.
He had said that P&R had ignored the 53-page analysis it commissioned last year from the civil service, the Community Foundation and the AGC with clear conclusions supporting Gift Aid reform.
But Deputy Stephens said: ‘While Mr Rose’s dedication to promoting the interests of the third sector is not in question, a number of his points are not entirely accurate.
‘On behalf of the Policy & Resources Committee, I would like to take this opportunity to correct a number of no doubt unintentional inaccuracies.
‘The Policy & Resources Committee did not dismiss and bury the report – it considered the report very carefully as part of its Budget planning meetings and in fact discussed the report’s contents at two meetings.
‘The Policy & Resources Committee was represented on the review group through me. There were a number of options set out in the report for the committee to consider, which they did in the context of the overall Budget.’
She said the committee chose to explore the establishment of a social investment commission, an idea put forward initially by Mr Rose, and not to make any changes to Gift Aid for the time being, other than to make the administrative process less burdensome.
‘This direction of travel, which was developed working with Peter and endorsed by him, was referenced by Deputy St Pier during the Budget debate,’ added Deputy Stephens.
‘The Association of Guernsey Charities and the Community Foundation remain involved in discussions on Gift Aid as part of the working group exploring the establishment of a social investment commission and I have been advised that it is fair to say that the parties around the table have different views on the future of Gift Aid.
‘Peter is right that “it is not very clear yet what form that will take”, but he remains actively involved in those discussions on behalf of the association.’
Mr Rose had also said that payroll giving in that Jersey and the UK have it, but Guernsey does not.
‘That is correct,’ Deputy Stephens added. ‘However, what Peter has not mentioned is that in the consultation that took place as part of the review of charitable giving last year, there was no strong support from charities or employers for payroll giving.’
