§ Lord Elderasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the current arrangements for the voluntary registration of charities. [HL618]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonWe are grateful to all who responded to the recent consultation on this issue. There was general agreement as to the purposes of 85WA registration as set out in the consultation document. The responses received made clear, however, that voluntary registration is a complex matter which requires further careful examination and consideration before informed decisions can be reached on longer term policy. We have asked officials to develop more detailed proposals in the light of the responses to the consultation and in discussions with interested organisations.
The current regulations, which made registration voluntary for charities connected with a number of religious bodies, expire on 1 March 2001. We have today laid a new statutory instrument to extend those regulations until 30 September 2002. That will allow time for the necessary work to be done to enable the way forward to be settled.
We will make a further announcement later this year but we want at this stage to allay concerns expressed by some of those consulted that one of the proposals in the consultation document meant that umbrella bodies would be compelled to take on responsibilities which neither they nor their members want. We can give an absolute assurance that that was not, and is not, the Government's intention.
Many respondents were also concerned that any change could make it more difficult for the public to find out about charities. The further work that we have commissioned will explore ways of making sure that that is not the case.