§ 2.38 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have been able to give consideration to the Report of the Nathan Committee on Charitable Trusts, published in December, 1952, and if they will state what action they propose to take on its recommendations.]
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SIMONDS)My Lords, I regret to say that I am still unable to state what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take on the recommendations contained in the Report of the Nathan Committee on Charitable Trusts, but I can assure the noble Viscount that we are giving thought to the matter. The careful consideration both of the policy and of the points of detail which this subject requires is bound to take considerable time.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELDoes the noble and learned Lord not think that the interval from December, 1952, until now is already a "considerable time"; and is there no prospect of the early introduction of a White Paper or any other interim measure?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORThe noble Viscount, I am sure, will not forget that one of the most difficult and complex parts of the Nathan Committee's Report has already formed the subject of a Bill which has passed your Lordships' House and is now before another place. In reply to the noble Viscount's other question, I can only say that the matter is receiving urgent attention, and I have every hope that in the future (I do not care to qualify "the future" by an adjective) we shall be able to make a fuller statement.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELI pin my hopes on the adjective "urgent."