Charles Walker debates amendments to the Charities Bill calling for small charitable companies to be treated primarily as charities thus avoiding new company legistlation and examines sports which should be permitted to attain charitable status.

Mr. Charles Walker (Broxbourne) (Con): The Minister mentions the impact of the proposals, but how many charities would benefit from it?

Edward Miliband: I believe that I am right in saying that about 15 per cent. of the UK's 190,000 charities are in that category, so it amounts to a significant number.

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Mr. Walker: I thank the Minister for giving way. As he might know, I am vice-chair of the all-party group on angling. As such, I am aware that there are thousands of angling clubs across the country that do an excellent job in their communities. Will they be eligible for charitable status, bearing in mind that their members exert themselves mentally and physically-it improves their health-and also that the Government are spending large sums of money through the Environment Agency to encourage people from all sorts of ethnic and social backgrounds to participate in fishing?

Edward Miliband: I am afraid that I am going to disappoint the hon. Gentleman. One of the virtues of the Charity Commission being the regulator is that it makes individual decisions about particular sports. Angling will be able to put its case, like any other sport.

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Mr. Walker: I hate to carp on-[Hon. Members: "Oh