§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to initiate a review of(a) charity regulations and (b) the role of the Scottish Charities Office; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has no plans at present to initiate a review of Scottish charity regulations.
The current legislative provisions relating to charities in Scotland are based on the 1989 policy statement "Charities in Scotland: A Framework for Supervision". The existing structure followed extensive consultation, which included the voluntary sector. Some regulations were brought into force only in 1993 and are in advance of equivalents proposed for England and Wales.
The role of the Scottish Charities Office includes the investigation of misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of charities. The office, which began work in July 1992, has conducted investigations in cases where 232W evidence of misconduct and mismanagement has been uncovered and has initiated court proceedings leading to the suspension of trustees and orders of court protecting charity property. Some recent examples, which have been reported widely in the media, indicate that the regulatory regime in Scotland and the Scottish Charities Office are effective against misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of charities. My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has no plans to review its role at present.