HC Deb 15 February 1945 vol 408 c381
23. Sir Ralph Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the terms of reference of the Committee that he has appointed to consider the care of children will include an investigation into the terms and conditions under which various charities, some of considerable antiquity, take charge of orphans and other children who are without homes, in view of the altered conditions and the trend of recent legislation and the restrictions imposed on the operation of charities and trusts by the Charity Commissioners.

Mr. H. Morrison

I understand that the Minister of Education, as the Charity Commissioner in respect of educational trusts, has power under the Charitable Trusts Act to remove out-of-date or other restrictions imposed by an original trust which may now hamper the working of the charity. The terms of reference of the proposed committee would not exclude them from considering cases where an alteration of a trust appeared to be desirable for the purpose of enabling homeless children to be brought up under better conditions; but I am anxious that the committee, who will have a big task, shall concentrate their attention on large questions affecting the welfare of children.

Sir R. Glyn

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that large numbers of children are put out in homes through the medium of these organisations, some of which are very good and others not so good?

Mr. Morrison

That will certainly be kept in mind.