§ MR. HOWELLI beg to ask the Parliamentary Charity Commissioner whether he can give the House any information with respect to the alleged breach of charity trust in the village of Swanscombe, in Kent, quoted in the newspapers as the Meriall's, or Daniel's, Charitable Bequest; whether it is true that the rent-charge upon certain property has not been paid for many years; whether the tenant occupier or owner who neglected to pay such rent-charge was a Trustee of such charity; whether the Statute of Limitations applies in such a case; and whether the Charity Commission are taking steps for the recovery of such charges under The Charity Trusts Recovery Act, 1891?
§ MR. F. S. STEVENSONThe rent-charge upon the property in question has not been paid for upwards of 40 years. It has recently been alleged that the person who neglected to pay the rent-charge was a Trustee of the charity, and that, consequently, the Statute of Limitations does not apply to such a case. The Commissioners have, within the last few days, invited evidence in support of the two foregoing allegations, with a view of considering whether or not they should take steps for the recovery of the charge under The Charitable Trusts Recovery Act, 1891.
§ MR. HOWELLAm I to understand that the Charity Commissioners have during 40 years never investigated this charity?
§ MR. F. S. STEVENSONI under stand that this is one of those cases not brought to the notice of the Charity Commissioners.