§ Baroness Rendell of Baberghasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there are any changes in the current policy on the voluntary registration of charities. [HL4923]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin)The current regulations which made registration voluntary for charities connected with a number of religious bodies expire on 1 October 2002. I am today laying a new statutory instrument to extend those regulations until 1 October 2007. The Performance and Innovation Unit, as part of its review of the legal framework for charities, is considering the matter of exception and its report will be published in due course. The extension of the regulations will allow time for the implementation of any changes which the report may recommend.