Whether it is aware of the concern amongst traders and some community groups about the increased numbers of charity shops working under pre…

Charity shops perform a valuable function and the principle of rates relief is long established. H M Treasury recently consulted on the whole question of charity taxation, including rates relief for charity shops. One of the suggestions in the consultation paper was to consider tightening up the legislation so that charity shops receiving rates relief are more clearly defined in terms of the goods they sell. We will consider whether to propose changes once the Treasury review is publishedIt is often the case that charity shops occupy sites that no-one else wants and very rarely occupy prime retail sites. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) does not consider that charity shops present unfair competition to small shopkeepers.There are no plans at this stage for research to be carried out into this matter.