§ Mr. HAYDN JONESasked the hon. Member for the Stroud Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners, what steps are taken by the Charity Commissioners to ascertain whether the trustees of charities comply with the statutory obligation to render yearly accounts; how many cases of neglect to render accounts have been discovered during the five years ended 31st December last; and how many cases of doubtful payments were investigated during the same period?
§ Mr. CHARLES P. ALLENA register is kept of all the charities the trustees of which are required by law to render accounts to the Commissioners, and circular letters are sent from time to time to trustees who are in arrear reminding them of their obligation. For the year 1083W ending 25th March, 1909, the number of accounts received was 35,532, and the number received which were in arrear was 21,275. The corresponding numbers for the four previous years were as follows:—
1908 32,678 24,178 1907 30,579 19,877 1906 31,049 19,422 1905 29,667 20,829 Cases of doubtful payments arise and are investigated in the course of the proceedings for the establishment of schemes, appointment of trustees, expenditure of funds, and other matters, but statistics are not available for supplying the number of these cases, no separate register being kept of such investigation.