There will be no move on gift aid before the general election, a government minister told sector leaders in a meeting early this week.

Ian Pearson, economic secretary to the Treasury, confirmed widely held suspicions that the government will not act on gift aid reform before the election, setting a timetable in which ministers will be presented with recommendations in September this year.

The Treasury minister also indicated that the government would only be interested in cost-neutral gift aid reforms, echoing sentiments expressed by shadow charities minister Nick Hurd who said any future government plans on gift aid would be restricted by Treasury’s unwillingness to give away more money to the scheme.