§ MR. REA (Gloucester)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether he will explain why he has assented to a scheme for the sale of Clifford's Inn; and whether he will consider the advisability of formulating an alternative scheme by which the property would be vested in the Charity Commissioners, the buildings preserved, and the revenues applied to the purposes of the Trust.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (SIR ROBERT FINLAY, Inverness Burghs)My assent to the scheme for the sale of Clifford's Inn was given on the ground that, having regard to the great change of circumstances since the Institution was founded, and the age and character of the buildings, it could not be properly utilised for the purposes of legal education in any other way. The order of the Court is final, and I have neither the power nor the desire to re-open it. I may add that the alternative scheme suggested in the Question is, in my opinion, quite impracticable, and it certainly would not be for the advantage of the Trust, as it would involve the perpetuation of an obsolete system. So long as the Society continues to exist, its members would have certain rights and privileges inconsistent with the full utilisation of the property for the purposes of the charity. The buildings are in such a condition that their upkeep would absorb funds which might be more usefully employed. I could not have rejected the opportunity afforded by the willingness of the members to extinguish the Society, and put an end to an institution which, however beneficial when it was established, had become obsolete, without sacrificing the interests of the charitable trust for legal education which is in my care.
§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)May I ask the hon. and learned Gentleman whether he proposes on this important and interesting question to lay any statement before the House, or whether the House will be given any opportunity of expressing an opinion on the scheme of legal education which it is understood is in contemplation.
§ SIR ROBERT FINLAYI do not think the matter is so far advanced that I could with advantage make any statement at the present.
§ MR. W. R. PEEL (Manchester, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Attorney-General whether, in view of the fact that the sum of£45,000 only is to be handed over to him for the purposes of legal education out of the proceeds of the sale of Clifford's Inn, he will state in what manner has this sum been arrived at; whether the total estimated value of Clifford's Inn is£100,000 or more; and what is the number of the members of Clifford's Inn among whom the balance of the money is to be divided.
§ SIR ROBERT FINLAYMy hon. friend's Question is based upon a misapprehension of fact. The share of the proceeds applicable to the purposes of legal education is not restricted to£45,000, nor to any other sum. A certain proportion of the proceeds is under the order of the Court to be applied for the payment of expenses connected with the winding up of the society, and in compensation to members for the loss of certain advantages which they enjoyed while the society continued to exist. Their consent to the sale was necessary, and the terms embodied in the order of the Court are, in my judgment, fair to all parties, and for the advantage of the trust for legal education which it is my duty to protect. The property is no doubt a very valuable one, but it is not for me to attempt to fix a figure—the larger the price paid the better for legal education.
§ MR. REAasked whether it was not the fact that the conduct of the scheme was in the hands of the Attorney-General, and that until the Incorporated Law Society had notice nothing was known of the proceedings.
§ SIR ROBERT FINLAYCertainly, the usual procedure was followed. In all these matters the Attorney-General is entrusted with the bringing forward of a scheme. In this case the Law Society, which might be concerned, were also consulted.
§ SIR ROBERT FINLAYI do not know who else could appear.