HC Deb 20 April 1961 vol 638 cc1363-4
8. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation permitting the Charity Commissioners to enable the idle resources accumulated in charitable trusts no longer operated, or in disaster and emergency funds which have met all their needs, to be transferred, under proper control, to useful social work.

Mr. Renton

My right hon. Friend feels confident that the enlarged powers of the Charity Commissioners under the new Charities Act to make schemes for the effective use of charitable resources will prove sufficient.

Mr. Allaun

Will the Minister ascertain the extent of these funds, because they must amount to scores of millions of £s, dating back to the Boer War or even earlier, and are accumulating yearly? While I appreciate the Minister's Answer, can he tell the House whether there has been any action following the Charities Act, 1960, to see that these vast sums are transferred to useful social purposes?

Mr. Renton

Until registration under the Charities Act is complete, a process which is likely to take several years, it will be impossible to say what these funds amount to. From our information, however, they certainly do not amount to millions of £s. Possibly the best and most helpful suggestion that I can make to the hon. Member is that if he knows of any case or cases of unspent disaster funds, he should get in touch first with the trustees and then, if necessary, with the Charity Commissioners, who can offer helpful advice.

Mr. Fletcher

Will the Under-Secretary make it clear that there is no need to await registration before trustees who have these unspent funds can apply to the Charity Commissioners? Is it not most important that the new powers given by the Charities Act should be as widely known as possible and the fullest use made of them?

Mr. Renton

I fully agree with the hon. Member.