To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to (a) (i) HM Revenue and Customs and (ii) charities of processing Gift Aid and (b) the Exchequer of Gift Aid tax relief; and how much in the period was (A) reimbursed to charities and (B) retained by higher-rate taxpayers in the last 12 months for which information is available. (95760)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not distinguish the costs of processing Gift Aid from its other activities in relation to charities and charitable giving and does not have information available to identify the cost of processing Gift Aid by charities.

Details of Gift Aid relief reimbursed to charities and retained by higher-rate taxpayers is available to the public on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/charities/menu.htm. Provisional figures for 2005-06 show total repayments to charities under Gift Aid of £728 million and £180 million of Gift Aid relief for higher-rate taxpayers.