§ 10. Mr. Yeoasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce a system of compulsory registration for charities in Northern Ireland.
§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Adam Butler)As I explained to my hon. Friend in my answer on 21 March 1984, the various aspects of charity law are kept under review and representations in favour of registration have been received from time to time. The Government have not, however, been persuaded that the introduction of a register would be of significant benefit.
§ Mr. YeoDoes my hon. Friend agree that, as charities in Northern Ireland and elsewhere are quite properly the beneficiaries of substantial tax concessions and thus indirectly receive funds from taxpayers in all parts of the United Kingdom, it is very unsatisfactory that those taxpayers, whether in Northern Ireland or elsewhere, have no means of knowing even the names of the organisations to which they are indirectly contributing money?
§ Mr. ButlerI should point out that the position in one respect is the same throughout the United Kingdom. Any organisation or body wishing to be treated as a charity for tax purposes must receive the approval of the Inland Revenue. That is the safeguard for the taxpayer.
Mr. J. Enoch PowellWill the Minister refresh his memory, if necessary, of the very careful consideration given to the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal made two or three years ago, with the assistance of the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Sir H. Rossi) when he was at the Northern Ireland Office, and associations and bodies in the Province concerned with the administration of charities?
§ Mr. ButlerI can take the right hon. Gentleman back even further. The Government-appointed committee under the chairmanship of Professor Newark considered the arguments thoroughly. The matter has been reviewed on several occasions since then, and the right hon. Gentleman is quite right to remind me of them.