To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 16 April 1999, Official Report, column 387, on income tax, how much tax an individual who pays a marginal rate of tax of 10 per cent. will have to pay as a result of making a covenanted payment to charity under an existing covenant in place prior to 5 April. [82202]

As has always been the case, covenantors will continue to be liable to pay tax at the basic rate on an amount of their income equal to the amount of the covenanted payment before deduction of tax. This applies whether the covenant existed at 5 April or is entered into after that date.