§ Mr. VERRALLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that on 20th June, 1907, the Charity Commissioners held a public inquiry at Burwell into the administration of all the Burwell charities: that the Trustees of the Burwell Church Lands Charity had requested the Commissioners to supply them with a copy of the Report of the Assistant Commissioner who held the inquiry, and were refused on the ground that the Report dealt chiefly with the Poors Fen Charity and was made for the confidential consideration of the Commissioners; that the trustees of the Poors Fen Charity had also applied for a copy of the Report; will he say whether it is usual to hold a public inquiry into the administra- 406W tion of a charity and not publish the result; and whether he will lay a copy of the Report of the Assistant-Commissioner upon the Table?
§ Mr. CHARLES P. ALLENIt is the fact that a public inquiry into the administration of all the charities at Burwell was held by an Assistant-Commissioner in 1907. It is the fact that an application for a copy of the Report made by the Assistant-Commissioner was received from the trustees of the Burwell Church Lands Charity and that such application was refused. Reports made by Assistant-Commissioners in such circumstances are made solely for the information of the Commissioners and are always treated as strictly confidential.