§ 13. Mr. MACLEANasked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to introduce legislation to compel all societies or organisations which solicit subscriptions for charitable objects to be registered, and to publish an annual balance sheet properly audited and certified by chartered accountants?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have recently appointed a Departmental Committee to inquire into this question. I will await their Report before coming to any decision as to legislation.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in a recent case of a charity the income was £84,000, of which only £10,000 was available for the charity. Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is necessary that the Committee should report at the very earliest moment?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSA Committee has been appointed, a very representative and important Committee. They are going into the whole of the matter, and I do not think it is desirable to legislate until they have reported.
Mr. BECKETTIn view of the suggestion in the Press and generally about a very lengthy list of salaries paid in many of these cases, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it is important to urge the Committee to hurry up?