Written question asked by Lord Maude of Horsham (Conservative) on Thursday, 22 January 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 2 February 1998. It was answered by Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour) on Monday, 2 February 1998 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what are the proposed activities the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts will undertake which will prevent it acquiring charitable status.

Answer: Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what are the proposed acitivities the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts will undertake which will prevent is acquiring charitable status. [25891] Mr. Chris Smith: Charitable status is unlikely to be compatible with NESTA's objective to support the commercial development of new ideas. It would be for the Charity Commission, in the first instance, to consider whether NESTA is a charity.

Secondary information