HC Deb 20 May 1897 vol 49 cc927-8
MR. PHILIP STANHOPE (Burnley)

I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Thirsk Division of Yorkshire whether the Charity Commissioners have decided that the Charity known as "Crowther's Charity," situated at Earby, in the parish of Thornton-in-Craven, is not a parochial charity; and if so what kind of charity they deem it to be, since the accounts of the said charity have been laid before three successive annual parish meetings, thereby complying with Section 14, Subsection 6, of the Local Government Act of 1894; and whether Section 5, Subsection 20, of the same Act applies to this charity?

THE PARLIAMENTARY CHARITY COMMISSIONER (Mr. J. GRANT LAWSON) York, N.R., Thirsk and Malton

Crowther's Charity is not in the view of the Charity Commissioners a parochial charity within the definition in the Local Government Act 1894, because its benefits are open to persons who shall at any time have resided within the parish of Thornton, and are not therefore confined to inhabitants of any single parish or otherwise, as required by that provision. The charity is, moreover, within the exemption created by Section 14 (8) of the same Act, having been founded within 40 years before the passing of the Act. The Commissioners therefore, deem the Charity to be modern and non-parochial. The Rector and Churchwardens are by the foundation the Trustees of the Charity, and Section 5 (2) (c) of the Act, to which provision it is presumed the Question refers does not, therefore, apply.

MR. PHILIP STANHOPE

I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Thirsk Division of Yorkshire whether the Charity Commissioners have arrived at a decision that the present is a suitable time for establishing Robert Windle's Free School upon a new scheme, seeing that the endowment is by foundation for a grammar school, whereas the annuity of £20 per annum is being appropriated and spent for the purpose of providing elementary education in the parish of Thornton-in-Craven; and whether it is the intention of the Charity Commissioners in their contemplated scheme to sell the said school and land connected therewith, and transfer the same when realised, together with the annuity, to some technical school or college there to be established as a scholarship?

MR. GRANT LAWSON

The Charity Commissioners do not think the present is a suitable time for making a scheme for this school. They are led to this view by the considerations mentioned in paragraph 34 of their annual Report for last year, the endowment being very small, the matter being one of some difficulty and apparently contentious, and more fit to be dealt with hereafter as part of a general system of secondary education in the district. Should a scheme eventually be made by the Commissioners it might be found necessary to adopt the course indicated in the last part of the Question.