HC Deb 12 December 1968 vol 775 cc572-3
48 and 49. Mr. Doughty

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will direct the ex-officio trustees to ensure that the Port of London Authority Police are included in the benefits from and donations to the Police Dependants Trust;

(2) if he will direct the ex-officio trustees to take steps to stop the Special Appeal Committee of the Police Dependants Trust from appealing for donations without disclosing that the Port of London Police are not entitled to any benefit therefrom.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

My right hon. Friend has no power to give directions to the trustees. They are responsible for the administration of the trust.

Mr. Doughty

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it was all decided in his Department? I have here correspondence from his Department dealing exactly with this matter. Will he now continue the responsibility of his Department to look into this very unfortunate matter when the public are asked for donations without disclosure of the full facts?

Mr. Morgan

I do not think that there is any doubt about the objects of the Trust. At the inaugural meeting in August, 1966, its founder decided to keep the scope of the Trust within reasonable bounds and to comply with the wishes of those who had made donations, that such bodies as the British Transport Police, the Airport Police and the Port of London Authority Police should be excluded.