MR. HERBERT LEWIS (Flint, & c)I beg to ask the Parliamentary Charity Commissioner whether Trustees of Parochial Charities are under a legal obligation to submit the accounts of such Charities to the annual meeting of the Parish Vestry; and, if that is the case, what steps can be taken to compel Trustees who decline or omit to fulfil their duties in this respect to submit such accounts to the inspection of parishioners?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY CHARITY COMMISSIONER (Mr. T. E. ELLIS,) MerionethshireIt is provided by Section 44 of the Charitable Trusts (Amendment) Act, 1885, that in the case of Parochial Charities the 329 Trustees shall deliver a copy of the annual accounts of the Charities to the churchwardens of the parish or parishes with which the objects of such Charities are identified, who shall present the same at the general meeting of the Vestry of such parishes next after the time appointed for the delivery of those accounts, and shall insert a copy thereof in the minutes of the Vestry. Section 45 of the same Act provides that the Charity Commissioners may make such orders as they may think fit in relation to the delivery or transmission of the said accounts, and that such order shall be executed by all Trustees and persons from whom the accounts to which they may relate are required. In any case in which the duty thus imposed upon Trustees is shown not to be discharged by them the Commissioners will be prepared to take steps for making and enforcing the requisite order for securing compliance with the law.