Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the powers of the Charity Commissioners to force charities to provide lists of their donors; what penalties can be imposed to enforce these powers; and if these powers were used during the commissioner's investigation into the Foundation for Business Responsibilities; [32055]
(2) if he will make a statement on the legal powers of the Charity Commission to compel individuals to come for interview to aid its inquiries; what penalties can be imposed to enforce these powers; and if such powers or penalties were used in the commission's investigation into the Foundation for Business Responsibilities. [32054]
§ Mr. Nicholas BakerThe Charity Commission has power under the Charities Act 1993 to require a person to supply documents, or copies of documents, relevant to the discharge of its functions. A person who is found guilty of wilfully suppressing any document which he is required to produce to the commission may be liable to a fine and/or a term of imprisonment.
Charities are not, however, required to retain lists of individual donors. The commission does not use its formal powers to require lists of donors.
The commission may compel individuals to come for interview during an investigation, using its powers under section 8 and 9 of the Charities Act 1993, and it may enforce those powers under sections 87, 88 or 90(2) of that Act. I understand that it was not necessary to use those powers during the commission's inquiry into the Foundation for Business Responsibilities.
Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 29 June,Official Report, column 766, if the Charity Commission investigators were informed of other break-ins at the Foundation for Business Responsibilities' former offices; and if they sought or received confirmatory evidence of these further break-ins. [32743]
§ Mr. BakerCharity Commission investigators were not informed of any other break-ins at the Foundation for Business Responsibilities' former offices.