Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing donors to the Consolidated Fund to direct their gift towards a specific public purpose.

Donations to the Crown that are made payable to HM Treasury are surrendered to the Consolidated Fund. Receipts surrendered to the Consolidated Fund are not ring-fenced for specific areas of government spending and are used towards general government expenditure.

Allowing donors to the Crown to direct a gift towards a specific public purpose would be inconsistent with the longstanding operation of the Consolidated Fund, and the framework through which public expenditure is authorised by Parliament and public finances are managed, under which receipts are not earmarked for specific purposes.

Individuals who wish to contribute specifically towards reducing the national debt may make a payment to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt.