Charities Bill (HL). Lords third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed with amendments and sent to the Commons. (Part 1 of 2).

Charities Bill (HL). Lords third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed with amendments and sent to the Commons. (Part 1 of 2).

Charities Bill (HL). Lords third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed with amendments and sent to the Commons. (Part 2 of 2).

Charities Bill (HL). Lords third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed with amendments and sent to the Commons. (Part 2 of 2).

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his response. I put to him that we are just fudging the issue. One day a Labour government will have to sort it out. I am grateful to other Members of the House. I am under no illusions that my...

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his response. I put to him that we are just fudging the issue. One day a Labour government will have to sort it out. I am grateful to other Members of the House. I am under no illusions that my...

moved Amendment No. 1:"Page 3, line 27, at end insert—" ““(   )   In determining whether an independent school meets the public benefit test under this section, the Charity Commission shall have regard to any directions or guidance issued by the Secretary of State.”” The noble Lord said: In moving Amendment No. 1, I shall...

moved Amendment No. 1:"Page 3, line 27, at end insert—" ““(   )   In determining whether an independent school meets the public benefit test under this section, the Charity Commission shall have regard to any directions or guidance issued by the Secretary of State.”” The noble Lord said: In moving Amendment No. 1, I shall...

Hear, hear!

Hear, hear!

My Lords, I first thank the noble Lord, Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market, for his kind comments about us all. Rather like the noble Lord, Lord Phillips, I was thinking, ““Well, yes, perhaps the noble Lord would say that, wouldn’t he?””. The generosity of his view is well meant, and we have...

My Lords, I first thank the noble Lord, Lord MacGregor of Pulham Market, for his kind comments about us all. Rather like the noble Lord, Lord Phillips, I was thinking, ““Well, yes, perhaps the noble Lord would say that, wouldn’t he?””. The generosity of his view is well meant, and we have...

And, my Lords, I am sure that, to my noble friend’s credit, he will ensure that there is. I cannot accept his amendments. They are inconsistent with our policy approach to the Bill and, for the reasons that I have set out, they would seriously compromise the independence of the...

And, my Lords, I am sure that, to my noble friend’s credit, he will ensure that there is. I cannot accept his amendments. They are inconsistent with our policy approach to the Bill and, for the reasons that I have set out, they would seriously compromise the independence of the...

My Lords, I can see from what the noble Lord, Lord Phillips, has said that I shall have to expand a little on my explanation of the difficulties to which his amendment might give rise for charitable amateur sports clubs wanting to convert to CASC status. There is no doubt that...

My Lords, I can see from what the noble Lord, Lord Phillips, has said that I shall have to expand a little on my explanation of the difficulties to which his amendment might give rise for charitable amateur sports clubs wanting to convert to CASC status. There is no doubt that...

moved Amendment No. 2:"Page 4, line 24, at end insert ““unless and until it registers as such, in which event it shall cease automatically to be a registered sports club””" The noble Lord said: My Lords, I hope that I can move this amendment speedily. This is the same amendment as...

moved Amendment No. 2:"Page 4, line 24, at end insert ““unless and until it registers as such, in which event it shall cease automatically to be a registered sports club””" The noble Lord said: My Lords, I hope that I can move this amendment speedily. This is the same amendment as...

My Lords, I am sorry to interrupt the noble Lord but he will be interested to know that when I visited the Charity Commission this morning, it had in its reception area free postcards. On them, in very large print, was the word ““Fair””, so perhaps the noble Lord’s amendment...

My Lords, I am sorry to interrupt the noble Lord but he will be interested to know that when I visited the Charity Commission this morning, it had in its reception area free postcards. On them, in very large print, was the word ““Fair””, so perhaps the noble Lord’s amendment...

My Lords, presumably, it does not have the word ““reasonably”” on another postcard. That is very good. For the benefit of those who have not heard the Government’s position before, I will place it on the record. We completely agree with the noble Lord, Lord Swinfen, that the commission should act...

My Lords, presumably, it does not have the word ““reasonably”” on another postcard. That is very good. For the benefit of those who have not heard the Government’s position before, I will place it on the record. We completely agree with the noble Lord, Lord Swinfen, that the commission should act...

My Lords, the Minister says that the first part of the amendment is unnecessary. It may be. It should be. He makes me think, however, of the situation in a mine where the managers put safety precautions in place, but the people at the coalface do not follow them because...

My Lords, the Minister says that the first part of the amendment is unnecessary. It may be. It should be. He makes me think, however, of the situation in a mine where the managers put safety precautions in place, but the people at the coalface do not follow them because...

moved Amendment No. 6:"After Clause 8, insert the following new clause—"““CHAPTER 2A THE CHARITY INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS REVIEWER    After section 2 of the 1993 Act insert— 2A   THE CHARITY INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS REVIEWER (1)   There shall be a complaints reviewer to be known as the Charity Independent Complaints Reviewer (in this Act referred to as ““the Reviewer””)....

moved Amendment No. 6:"After Clause 8, insert the following new clause—"““CHAPTER 2A THE CHARITY INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS REVIEWER    After section 2 of the 1993 Act insert— 2A   THE CHARITY INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS REVIEWER (1)   There shall be a complaints reviewer to be known as the Charity Independent Complaints Reviewer (in this Act referred to as ““the Reviewer””)....

My Lords, I hope that I can reassure the noble Lord. I am rather surprised that he has raised the issue in the way in which he has. What we have tried to do—unusually with this piece of legislation—is be more flexible, imaginative and focused. It should work where it...

My Lords, I hope that I can reassure the noble Lord. I am rather surprised that he has raised the issue in the way in which he has. What we have tried to do—unusually with this piece of legislation—is be more flexible, imaginative and focused. It should work where it...

moved Amendment No. 4:"Page 7, line 31, at end insert—" ““7.      In performing its regulatory functions the Commission must act fairly and reasonably, and with regard to the interests of charity beneficiaries and other people who are stakeholders in charities.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I start by thanking the Minister...

moved Amendment No. 4:"Page 7, line 31, at end insert—" ““7.      In performing its regulatory functions the Commission must act fairly and reasonably, and with regard to the interests of charity beneficiaries and other people who are stakeholders in charities.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, I start by thanking the Minister...

My Lords, the noble Lord has addressed this issue at length on previous occasions with different amendments, but this amendment seeks to bring together two separate amendments that he tabled previously. The first part concerns a duty for the commission in performing its regulatory functions to act ““fairly and reasonably””,...

My Lords, the noble Lord has addressed this issue at length on previous occasions with different amendments, but this amendment seeks to bring together two separate amendments that he tabled previously. The first part concerns a duty for the commission in performing its regulatory functions to act ““fairly and reasonably””,...

moved Amendment No. 3:"Page 7, line 26, after ““must”” insert ““, in appropriate cases,””" The noble Lord said: My Lords, this should not detain the House for too long. It is an amendment standing in the name of my noble friend Lady Scotland. On Report, on 12 October, your Lordships’ House agreed...

moved Amendment No. 3:"Page 7, line 26, after ““must”” insert ““, in appropriate cases,””" The noble Lord said: My Lords, this should not detain the House for too long. It is an amendment standing in the name of my noble friend Lady Scotland. On Report, on 12 October, your Lordships’ House agreed...

My Lords, I am grateful for the Minister’s response. I think this is a classic example of where we have not done very well because we should have had a discussion on this outside this Chamber. Everything the Minister said is wrong, and I must leave it at that—this is...

My Lords, I am grateful for the Minister’s response. I think this is a classic example of where we have not done very well because we should have had a discussion on this outside this Chamber. Everything the Minister said is wrong, and I must leave it at that—this is...

My Lords, by contrast, I am delighted with the amendment and grateful to the Government. I would like to reassure the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, that actually this prevents what he fears—that is to say the one-size-fits-all approach. There are classes of charity that are not about innovation at all, for...

My Lords, by contrast, I am delighted with the amendment and grateful to the Government. I would like to reassure the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, that actually this prevents what he fears—that is to say the one-size-fits-all approach. There are classes of charity that are not about innovation at all, for...

My Lords, I understand what the Minister is driving at here and I do not want to strike a sour note at this hour. I am concerned about how one decides what are ““appropriate cases””. My original objective in pressing for the inclusion of the desirability of facilitating innovation was...

My Lords, I understand what the Minister is driving at here and I do not want to strike a sour note at this hour. I am concerned about how one decides what are ““appropriate cases””. My original objective in pressing for the inclusion of the desirability of facilitating innovation was...