§ 63. Commander SOUTHBYasked the hon. Member for Houghton-le-Spring, as representing the Charity Commissioners, how much money is now held by the trustees of the Foundling Hospital; how this revenue is expended; and whether it is within the power of the Charity Commissioners to compel the trustees to devote the sum of money received as the purchase price of the London site for the service of the poor children in London in accordance with the original purpose of the fund?
§ Mr. ROBERT RICHARDSON (Charity Commissioner)The Foundling Hospital is not within the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners, who are accordingly unable to supply the information asked for in the earlier part of the question, or to take any action with regard to the appropriation of the money referred to.
§ Commander SOUTHBYArising out of that reply, which I was hardly able to hear, can the hon. Gentleman say if he has any power to do anything to safeguard the rights of the poor children of London for whom this trust was originally designed?
§ Mr. RICHARDSONOn the passing of the Education Act, 1908, this charity was deemed to be educational and handed over to the Board of Education, 876 but in 1914 the matter was again raised and taken to the courts, and it was decided that it did not come under the Charitable Trusts Act at all; and the only man to whom I can refer the hon. and gallant Member is the Attorney-General.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Foundling Hospital Trust is not confined only to London children, but to children of the country as a whole?