Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will have discussions with representatives of the banking sector on the possibility of instituting a system whereby registered charities would be entitled to preferential interest rates on (a) borrowing and (b) investments.

Charities play an important role in our society, enabling people to play an active role in their community. This is why the Government supports charities through a range of reliefs and exemptions worth over £4 billion a year. However, the Government recognises that decisions about what financial products are offered to specific businesses remain commercial decisions for banks and building societies.