§ 2.34 p.m.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I beg leave to ask His Majesty's Government the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, whether they have received any complaints that funds subscribed to Service charities are not being economically administered and suitably distributed.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (VISCOUNT HALL)My Lords, Service benevolent funds and Service charities are independent bodies, acting under their own trusts and charters. They are registered under the War Charities Act, and are required by law to publish annual reports and accounts. His Majesty's Government have no responsibility for the control or for the administration of the funds subscribed to these bodies. They are, of course, aware of the recent articles which have appeared in a Sunday paper, but they have not had any specific complaints addressed to them that these funds are administered uneconomically or are not suitably distributed. I think it would be appropriate to remind your Lordships that much effort and time are freely given by the members of the independent bodies which administer these funds, and I am sure that all of us who are interested in the welfare of Service personnel are grateful for the work they perform.
§ LORD MANCROFTWhile thanking the noble Lord for that answer, the point 1152 of which I appreciate, may I ask this supplementary question? In view of those articles—they were strongly worded and included one by the late Secretary of State for War—which have caused considerable misgivings amongst those who otherwise would be subscribing to these charities does he not think that some explanation to the public as to the true state of affairs is now called for?
§ VISCOUNT HALLI would repeat that this is not a Government responsibility. I am sure that those responsible for distributing these funds will take note of the question and the answer, and it will, of course, be open to them to defend themselves, possibly on the lines suggested by the noble Lord.
§ EARL HOWEMay I ask the noble Lord whether his answer means that His Majesty's Government are satisfied, on the whole, with the general administration of Service charities?
§ VISCOUNT HALLI said, in reply to the question, that His Majesty's Government have had no specific complaint from anyone as to the control of these funds——
§ VISCOUNT HALLWe have certainly no reason to be dissatisfied about the way the funds are administered.
LORD ROCHDALEArising out of the answer which the noble Viscount has given, may I ask, further, whether His Majesty's Government will draw the attention of those who look after these funds to this point? Now that His Majesty's Government are responsible under the National Health, National Insurance and Education Acts for many types of grants which previously were disbursed by these Service charities, the charities will now be in a better position to make bigger grants in other directions.
§ VISCOUNT HALLMay I again repeat that His Majesty's Government have no responsibility? No doubt, those responsible for the distribution of these funds are quite conversant with their duties under their charters.
§ VISCOUNT BRIDGEMANMay I ask the noble Viscount whether his answer is to be taken to include the Army Benevolent Fund, as well as private regimental charities? If so, is it not a fact 1153 that the War Office have certain official representatives on the Council of the Army Benevolent Fund? And, if that is the case, would not the War Office consider instructing those representatives to take note of what has been said in this connection?
§ VISCOUNT HALLI am afraid that I cannot deal with that question without notice. I do not know if there are War Office representatives on the Council of the Army Benevolent Fund.