§ Lord Denningasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, following the Answer of the Earl Ferrers on 4th July (HL Deb, col. 2253), the circular was submitted in draft to the Charity Commissioners in the shape of proposed guidelines and was commented on by the Charity Commissioners and was afterwards referred to by many as the Charity Commissioners' guidelines, giving rise to the belief that the Charity Commissioners had authorised it.
Earl FerrersHer Majesty's Government understand that the letter dated 28th July 1987 to which the noble and learned Lord refers was sent by the Board of Education of the General Synod of the Church of England on the basis of legal advice obtained by the board from their solicitors. It was not felt necessary to submit the letter in draft to the Charity Commissioners for their comments, and it is not for the Charity Commissioners to authorise routine correspondence of the board. Her Majesty's Government are unable to say whether the letter was afterwards referred to by many as the Charity Commissioners' guidelines.