§ MR. A. BALDWIN (Worcester, Bewdley)I beg to ask the hon. Member for Thirsk, as representing the Charity Commissioners (1) whether after a local inquiry held at Upton Snodsbury, in the county of Worcester, it has been decided fiat the only trustees of the charity lands are the vicar and churchwardens of the parish; (2) whether this decision has been made on the sole authority of an inclosure award, notwithstanding that the parish hooks appear to show that the administration of the charity was always under the control of 1105 the parishioners; and (3) if any authority exists for treating an inclosure award as a declaration of trusts?
MR. GRANT LAWSON (York, N.R., Thirsk)The answer to the first paragraph of the Question is in the affirmative. The decision was arrived at after an examination (If an the available evidence in the case, including the parish books, which show a usage only whereby the trustees allowed the parishioners a voice in the administration of the charity. Charitable trusts are frequently declared by an enclosure award which, being established by the authority of Parliament, constitutes in these eases a declaration of trust of an exceptionally permanent, character.