54. Mr. Watkinsasked the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean, as representing the Charity Commissioners, when the draft scheme for the re-organisation of the Charities of Presteigne, which has been under their consideration since January, 1948, may be expected to be ready to replace the present charities which have long been unworkable owing to their obsolete terms.
§ Mr. Philips PriceThe making of a scheme for the future administration of the 13 charities in question, the areas of benefit of which now comprise many civil parishes, has admittedly been under consideration for a long time. The case presents formidable difficulties, and to ensure satisfactory administration in the future it is important that the scheme should be one which is likely to command general acceptance. In the past the preparation of a scheme in such a case as this would probably have been preceded by a public local inquiry held by an Assistant Commissioner, but at the present time the Charity Commissioners have only one Assistant Commissioner available for such inquiries and it has not been practicable to arrange for such an inquiry in this case. Nevertheless the Commissioners will expedite the preparation of the draft scheme as much as possible.