§ MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)I beg to ask the hon. Member for Merionethshire whether he can inform the House as to the total number of charities during each of the last five years which have failed to make Returns as provided by statute; and whether it is the intention of the Charity Commission to compel those Returns to be made?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY CHARITY COMMISSIONER (Mr. T. E. ELLIS,) MerionethshireOwing to shortness of notice I cannot give a full or detailed reply. But on reference to the Annual Report of the Commissioners I find that out of 49,000 charities the accounts for 17,000 had not, in 1888 or 1889, been duly sent in, and that in 1891 and 1892 there were as many as 24,000. The Commissioners have not been able to cope with this neglect owing to the additional work entailed in the preparation of Returns called for by Parliament and by County Councils; but it is the intention and the practice of the Charity Commissioners to require, and, if necessary, to enforce, the Returns of accounts of these charities as and when ascertained to have not been duly rendered.
§ MR. HOWELLIs it the intention of the Government to afford the Charity Commission further assistance, so that the Act may be put in force and trustees compelled to send in Returns?
§ MR. T. E. ELLISThat is a question for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ MR. HOWELLI will put it to the right hon. Gentleman in due course.