§ SIR ALBERT ROLLIT (Islington, S.)I beg to ask the hon. Member for the Tonbridge Division of Kent, as Charity Commissioner, whether it is the general practice of the Charity Commissioners, where charitable property, such as the Cloudesley Trust Estate in Islington, is about to be let, merely to publish a notice of the proposed lease or letting by affixing notices to the church door or doors and by advertisement in local newspapers; and whether, with the view of following general usage and protecting the interest of such charities and their funds, he will consider the advisability of inviting tenders by public 165 notices or of offering the property by public auction, as suggested by the Islington Borough Council.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY CHARITY COMMISSIONER (Mr. GRIFFITH BOSCAWEN,) Kent, TonbridgeThe general practice of the Charity Commissioners is as stated in the first part of the hon. Member's Question. With regard to the suggestion in the concluding sentence, the Commissioners have considered, but are not prepared to adopt it, their experience being that the system of publishing notice of the terms offered is more efficacious in securing the best rent for charity land than the alternative of inviting tenders; and, when the property is in demand, has the practical advantages of an auction without the attendant expense.