§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received about(a) the proposed Charities Bill and (b) charitable incorporated organisations; [114573]
(2) when legislation will be introduced to enable the formation of charitable incorporated organisations. [114572]
§ Beverley Hughes[holding answer 19 May 2003]: The Charitable Incorporated Organisation would be brought into existence by a Charities Bill. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary recently promised to publish a draft Bill as soon as possible.
The Strategy Unit's recent review of charity law and regulation (Private Action, Public Benefit), was put out for public consultation late last year. Officials have nearly completed an analysis of the approximately 1,100 written responses to the consultation. Initial analysis of the responses indicates clear support for a Charities Act and for the Charitable Incorporated Organisation legal form. The Government intends in the summer to publish a summary of the views expressed by respondents to the consultation together with an indication of how the Government intends to take the recommendations forward.