Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many staff were allocated to the charity commissioners' second inquiry into the Foundation for Business Responsibilities; how long they spent making their inquiries; and what was the total number of man hours put into the investigation; [32057]
(2) pursuant to his answer of 18 May, Official Report, column 369, how much money the charity commissioners found had been improperly paid to Marketforce Communications by the Foundation for Business Responsibilities; who was the individual responsible for these payments; and how much money this individual repaid to the charity; [32067]
(3) pursuant to his answer of 18 May, Official Report, column 369, on what grounds the charity commissioners decided that some payments to Marketforce Communications by the Foundation for Business Responsibilities had been improper; [32066]
698W(4) which donors to the Foundation for Business Responsibilities were interviewed or corresponded with during the charity commissioners' second inquiry into the charity; and if he will place copies of this correspondence in the Library; [32056]
(5) how many witnesses were interviewed by the charity commission during its second investigation into the Foundation for Business Responsibilities; and if he will list them. [32058]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerDetails of persons written to or interviewed by the Charity Commission during an investigation are a matter for the Charity Commission. The commission's correspondence files are confidential, particularly those relating to investigations cases where disclosure may discourage third parties from providing information to the commission. Correspondence will not usually be disclosed without the authority of an order of the court or the consent of the correspondent.
The commission's second inquiry was conducted by one member of staff who, over a period of four and a half months, spent a total of 22¼ hours on it. The investigator was supported at times by senior staff. The duration of this support was not recorded.
During the course of the commission's investigation, the trustees of the Foundation for Business Responsibilities themselves acknowledged that some of the payments made by the foundation to Marketforce Communications were not justified having regard to the services provided by marketforce to the foundation. The commission was not party to any consideration of the factors leading to the trustees' decision.
During the course of the commission's first inquiry, £98,987.96 was identified as being improperly paid to Marketforce Communications. The former director of the foundation, Michael Ivens, authorised the payments. He repaid the money to the charity.