§ 83. Captain BOURNEasked the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether it is the policy of the commissioners to continue the ratio of investment of their trust funds in British funds and other securities at approximately 65 per cent. invested in British funds and 35 per cent. invested in other securities?
§ Mr. ROBERT RICHARDSONThe securities in which the trust funds are invested are selected by the founders or the 1133 trustees of the respective charities, and the ratio between British funds and other securities is not controlled by the commissioners.
§ 84. Captain BOURNEasked the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring, as representing the Charity Commissioners, if he can give particulars of the holding of 6,875 gold roubles, which constitute part of the trust investments of the Commissioners, and the date when this holding was acquired?
§ Mr. RICHARDSONThe holding of 6,875 gold roubles represents the face value of 11 bearer bonds of the Russian 4 per cent. Gold Loan, second issue, 1890, which were the property of the trustees of the Wingfield Orthopædic Hospital at Headington, and were transferred to the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds on 10th March, 1923. The commissioners have ńo knowledge when the trustees acquired the bonds.
§ Captain BOURNECan the hon. Gentleman state if any interest is being received on these bonds?
§ Mr. RICHARDSONI would ask the hon. and gallant Member to put that question down, and I will try to find out.
§ 85. Captain BOURNEasked the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring, as representing the Charity Commissioners, when the holding of 161,800 francs, which constitutes part of the trust investments of the commissioners, was acquired?
§ Mr. RICHARDSONThe commissioners are unable to say when the holding of 161,800 francs, which in varying amounts are the property of six different charities, was acquired, but the respective amounts were transferred to the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds at various dates between July, 1915, and October, 1926.