asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the operation to date of the scheme to enable civil servants to make donations to charities under the payroll giving scheme.

I have already announced that the Government as employer will participate in the payroll giving arrangements. We are for example now carrying forward action on the scheme which we plan to set up as quickly as possible for the 216,000 people in a number of Departments who are paid through the largest Civil Service payroll system which is operated by the Treasury at Chessington. We have already approached all the registered payroll agencies in England and Wales and will soon be issuing invitations to tender. Departments covered by other payroll systems are expected to follow a broadly similar procedure.