§ 3. Mr. Andrew MacKayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to reform the law on charities.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Douglas Hurd)I announced in January last year that we intended to bring forward legislation to implement the proposals made by Sir Philip Woodfield in his efficiency scrutiny of the supervision of charities. I hope shortly to publish a White Paper setting out the Government's proposals.
§ Mr. MacKayWhile I welcome the White Paper and hope that it will shortly be published—followed, one hopes, by legislation in the next Session of Parliament—will my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary confirm that the Charity Commissioners can deregister charities found to be fraudulent and remove trustees? Is it not a pity that that does not happen more often?
§ Mr. HurdThe commissioners have powers of the kind mentioned by my hon. Friend and are ably led and increasingly well organised. The trouble with the existing law is that it imposes on them a number of secondary duties which make it difficult for them to carry out effectively all the important tasks that they would wish.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursIs the Home Secretary aware that in the past 12 months many members of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have written to me complaining about the running of that organisation—for which we all have great respect? Following the expulsion of the watchdog group of RSPCA members, I convened a meeting and asked those members if they would be prepared to accept me as arbiter between the warring factions. Is the Home Secretary aware that they refused, and that many RSPCA members are making grave allegations against the organisation, about which something should be done? Will he ensure that any reform provides for an inquiry of some sort?
§ Mr. HurdI am sorry that the hon. Gentleman's reputation for calm and impartiality did not serve him on that occasion. It is surely for the RSPCA to sort the matter out. If the question of its charitable status should arise, it will be a matter between the RSPCA and the Charity Commission; certainly it is not my responsibility.
§ Mr. FavellIs my right hon. Friend aware that many bank accounts around the country contain money collected for worthwhile projects such as children's playgrounds, sports fields and conservation that have come to nothing? Often the promoters have left or died. Has my right hon. Friend any plans to release that money—which may run into millions of pounds—for other suitable, worthwhile charity projects?
§ Mr. HurdMy hon. Friend makes a good point. The Charity Commission is already able to take action if it knows of money having been abandoned in that way. For example. it can appoint new trustees. We propose, however, to strengthen its powers as a result of the Woodfield report. I will write to my hon. Friend with details.