§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Lord Advocate if he is aware that at a meeting of the Governors of George Heriot's Trust, Edinburgh, on the 10th instant, a Resolution was passed to make grants from the funds of the trust of £50 to the corporation coronation fund, and £50 for decorative purposes; that the clerk of the trust said there was no provision in the scheme for such contributions, but that he had no doubt the auditors would agree to the expenditure; and whether, in view of the diversion of trust funds to an illegal purpose, and in view of the declaration that the auditors will no doubt approve the illegality, he proposes to take any steps to stop this abuse of trust funds, and to inquire into the way in which the auditors have conducted the audit in the past?
§ Mr. UREI am informed that the statements with reference to the Resolution of the 10th April are substantially correct. It is for the Governors of the Trust, acting under the powers of the Trust, to 205 determine what expenditure they shall or shall not incur. Such expenditure is subject to the review of an officially-appointed auditor acting in a judicial capacity. There is no power for any Government Department to determine beforehand what expenditure shall be or shall not be allowed. There is no justification for the suggestion that the auditor would approve expenditure which he considered to be illegal.
§ Mr. SNOWDENAre we to assume from that answer that the Treasury will be justified in using trust funds for the purpose specified in the question?