§ MR. WHITMOREI beg to ask the hon. Member for Merionethshire, as a Charity Commissioner, whether the Charity Commission has any control over the administration of Lyons' Estates, in the County of Middlesex; and, if so, whether its attention has been directed to the unremunerative terms on which, in some instances, the leases on these estates have been granted; and whether, on the renewal of such leases, care will be taken to secure duly favourable terms for the beneficiaries of the Trust?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY CHARITY COMMISSIONER (Mr. T. E. ELLIS,) MerionethshireThough the Charities founded by John Lyon in Middlesex are within the general jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners, the control usually exercised by the Commissioners over the grant of long leases of Charity Lands is, in this case, negatived by certain Private Acts of Parliament under which the Governors exercise leasing powers. In these circumstances, the Commissioners have no knowledge of the matters in question. It is, however, the duty of the Governors to grant leases upon the best terms obtainable, and the Commissioners would be prepared to consider and to inquire into any specific complaint of neglect by the Governors of this duty.