§ 44. Mr. Websterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to release the moneys in redundant disaster appeal funds into a national relief fund.
§ The Minister of State, Treasury (Mr. Dick Taverne)In the few cases in which a charitable disaster fund cannot be wholly spent on the purposes for which it was established, those purposes have been extended so that the balance can he used. There are accordingly no redundant funds.
§ Mr. WebsterWill the Chancellor look kindly at legislation during the next Session to make it possible to release money from ancient funds in order that the problems of current disasters can be met? Better still, would he introduce legislation himself?
§ Mr. TaverneMany ancient funds have continuing liabilities. The Charity Commissioners have power under the Charities Act, 1960, to use them for other purposes if the original ones no longer exist. In general, I think that it would be wrong to use funds contributed for specific purposes for other ones.