§ 31. Mr. SUTCLIFFEasked the hon. Member for Bosworth (Sir W. Edge) as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether the attention of the commissioners has been called to the grievance of the Littleborough District Council owing to the fact that their scheme for utilising War charity funds for the relief of local distress has been before the commissioners for over two years and no satisfactory settlement is yet in view; and whether he can arrange for this matter to be dealt with more expeditiously?
§ Mr. BLINDELL (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. The delay in this case has not been due to the Charity Commissioners. The first letter in this matter was received on 2nd November, 1932, and the commissioners explained on the 22nd November that the object aimed at by the Committee managing the charities could only be obtained after the commissioners had made (1) an order extending the Charitable Trusts Acts to the War charities concerned, and subsequently (2) a scheme. To enable the commissioners to do this an applica- 18 tion signed in accordance with the provisions of the Charitable Trusts Acts was necessary. The Committee took 10 months to reply and the application was only received on the 12th September, 1933. When notice of the order extending the Charitable Trusts Acts to the charities was forwarded for publication the Committee took five months to reply with the result that the Order was not sealed until the 22nd ultimo. Until it was sealed the commissioners had no jurisdiction to proceed with the scheme. The commissioners think that before diverting the funds to the relief of general distress in the locality it is proper that further inquiry should be made as to the possibility of making greater use of the fund for purposes more closely allied to the object for which the money was originally subscribed and have suggested that the Committee should communicate with the Lancashire Fusiliers Compassionate Fund and the Old Comrades Association. As soon as the result of these inquiries has been received the proposed scheme will be drafted and forwarded for publication.
Viscountess ASTORAre there any women among the Charity Commissioners; if not, would it not be a good idea to appoint some?