HC Deb 07 March 1899 vol 68 cc23-4
MR. MORRELL (Oxon, Woodstock)

I beg to ask the Parliamentary Charity Commissioner whether he is aware that the Hospital of St. Bartholomew, Oxford, was placed under the care of Oriel College by Edward the Third for administration, and that the Commissioners in 1807 declared that before Oriel College is entitled to take any share in the profits of the hospital property it must fulfil cer- tain obligations, inter alia, providing lodgings for the almsmen, repairing the buildings, and providing a chaplain to officiate in the chapel; whether, since 1897, the College has discharged these obligations, or any of them; what is the total income arising from the hospital property, and whether the College has taken it for itself without performing the obligations; and, if so, whether the Commissioners will lay the matter before the Attorney-General; and whether he is aware that the buildings are now used as cattle-sheds, and no chaplain in Holy Orders maintained?

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

In the opinion of the Commissioners, the hospital was not placed in the care of, but granted to, the College by Edward the Third for its better administration and for the benefit of the College. The Commissioners did in 1897 give the opinion set out in the second paragraph of the Question. With the exception of doing certain repairs to the buildings, the College has not discharged the obligation specified in the Question, and the Commissioners consider that no one would benefit by their doing so, as the old method of administering the charity has fallen into desuetude and is incapable of performance. The total net income is estimated at about £105. After deducting the expense of repairs to the buildings and the amount of stipends paid either to existing almsmen or to a suspense account, the College has taken the income for itself. The Commissioners will not at present lay the matter before the Attorney-General, as they are engaged in negotiating for an arrangement. In view of the foregoing circumstances, the buildings are used as farm-buildings, and no chaplain in Holy Orders is maintained.