HL Deb 12 October 1993 vol 549 cc187-8

11 After Clause 29, insert the following clause:

'.—(1) Section 5 of the Charities Act 1993 (which requires the status of a registered charity to appear in English on certain documents) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (2), the words "in English" shall be omitted.

(3)After subsection (2), there shall be inserted—

"(2A) The statement required by subsection (2) above shall be in English, except that, in the case of a document which is otherwise wholly in Welsh, the statement may he in Welsh if it consists of or includes the words "elusen cofrestredig" (the Welsh equivalent of "registered charity")."

(4)In subsection (4), for the words from "in which" to "stated as" there shall be substituted the words "which does not contain the statement".

(5)In subsection (5), for the words from "in which" to "stated as" there shall be substituted "which does not contain the statement".'.

12 Insert the following clause:

Statement of charitable status

'.—(1) Section 68 of the Charities Act 1993 (which requires the status of a charity that is a company to appear in English on certain documents) shall be amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1)—

(a)after the words "the word "charitable" " there shall be inserted the words "then, subject to subsection (1A)", and

(b)the words "in English" shall be omitted.

(3) After subsection (1), there shall be inserted—

"(1A) Where a company's name includes the word "elusen" or the word "elusennol" (the Welsh equivalents of the words "charity" and "charitable"), subsection (1) above shall not apply in relation to any document which is wholly in Welsh.

(1B) The statement required by subsection (1) above shall be in English, except that, in the case of a document which is otherwise wholly in Welsh, the statement may be in Welsh if it consists of or includes the word "elusen" or the word "elusennol"." '.

Earl Ferrers

My Lords, with the leave of the House I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 11 and 12 en bloc. Perhaps I may also speak to Amendment No. 21 at the same time.

Another matter which was raised by your Lordships during the earlier debate on the Bill in this House was the position of the Welsh language under charity law. I gave an undertaking during those debates that this was a matter to which the Government would give serious consideration. I was therefore particularly pleased that, before I passed on my responsibility for charity matters within the Home Office, my right honourable friend the Minister of State in the Welsh Office and I were able to agree a number of measures which now appear in these amendments.

The issue to which my noble friend Lord Aberdare in particular drew our attention was the provisions in charity law which require charities or charitable companies to declare their charitable status in English. I explained, during our earlier debates, that the importance of these provisions was that they ensured that members of the public would be aware that they are doing business, or are contemplating doing business, with a charity.

Under this group of amendments charities will be able, as now, to declare their status bilingually—in English and Welsh. But for the first time, charities will be able to make this declaration in Welsh alone where the rest of the letter or communication is written in Welsh.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 11 and 12.—(Earl Ferrers.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.