§ 47. Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Attorney-General how often the Lord Chancellor meets the Lord Chief Justice.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Michael Havers)Frequently, Sir.
§ Mr. MorrisIs there not now a case for the right hon. and learned Gentleman to be urgently in touch with the Lord Chief Justice, formally or informally, to express the concern of many right hon. and hon. Members about the proposal to turn the Reuters trust into a public company? Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the approval of the Lord Chief Justice is required to amend the trust deed and that he appears not even to have been consulted? Is it not the definition of a scandal that huge profits may be the reward for dishonouring the undertakings enshrined in a trust deed?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThis is a matter in which the Lord Chancellor has no responsibility. Since I have been asked about my responsibility, I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that I have looked with care at the documents. There are three options. It is a charitable trust or, if not, an ordinary trust or, if not, a shareholders' agreement. These is no evidence that I can see that makes it a charitable trust. It is only charitable trusts for which I have any responsibility.