§ 68. Mr. HICKS (for Mr. THORNE)asked the hon. Member for Bosworth, as representing the Charity Commissioners, if he is aware that the Henry Smith (Kensington Estate) Charity Scheme provides for educational grants to the children of the kindred; that although educational facilities are granted up to the age of 17 years the trustees have decided only to make grants from the age of 11 years; and if he will make representations to the trustees to alter their decision to allow children of the kindred seven years of age to participate in view of State economy in the educational services, and in consequence of the large amounts transferred from the educational fund of the charity to the unapplied income devoted to London hospitals?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Dr. Burgin)The Charity Commissioners are aware that the trustees of Henry Smith's Charity (Kensington Estate) consider it to be undesirable as a general rule to make grants for the payment of school fees of children under 11 years of age unless in exceptional circumstances. The scheme established by the Court of Appeal whereby (as slightly amended by Schemes of the Charity Commissioners) the charity is regulated allows the trustees a very wide discretion as to the application of income for the relief of poor kindred of the founder and so long as this discretion is exercised bona fide the Charity Commissioners have no power to interfere with it.