COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT  

OFFICIAL REPORT
(Hansard)  

Charities Bill

01 May 2008

Members present for all or part of the proceedings:

Mr Gregory Campbell (Chairperson)
Mr David Hilditch (Deputy Chairperson)
Mr Jonathan Craig
Ms Anna Lo
Mrs Claire McGill
Miss Michelle McIlveen
Mr Alban Maginness

The Chairperson (Mr Campbell):

As a result of the introduction of the Companies Act 2006 across the UK, a number of technical amendments are required for the Charities Bill in order to dovetail both charity and company law.

Members have a copy of the paper supplied by the Department that also lists proposed amendments, which correct minor, typographical or drafting errors in the Bill. All the proposed amendments are of a technical nature, and do not impact on policy.

The Committee Clerk:

The amendments are based on amendments to the Charities Act 1993 contained in the Companies Act 2006.

During some evidence sessions, a number of concerns were raised, for example, about small companies being treated differently to small charities. The technical amendments will address such issues.

The Chairperson:

The proposed amendments will affect the following clauses 27, 32, 45, 46, 57, 66, 67, 69, 70, 92, 93, 99, 100, 102, 103, 107, 108, 114, 146, and 180, and schedules 6, 8 and 9.

Question, That the Committee is content with the proposed list of departmental technical amendments, as outlined in the departmental briefing paper, put and agreed to.

Clause 104 (Annual audit or examination of accounts of charitable companies)

The Chairperson:

The Minister has also given notice that clause 104, which refers to the annual audit or examination of accounts of charitable companies, is to be dropped from the Bill. The clause is now unnecessary given the amendments to the Charities Act 1993. It would be a duplicate, because provisions for audit or examination are contained in the Companies Act 2006.

Question, That the Committee is content with the clause, put and negatived.

Clause 104 disagreed to.

Given the stage we are now at, do members agree that it would be appropriate to write to the Minister asking her to thank the officials for the comprehensive assistance that they provided during the Committee Stage of the Bill?

Members indicated assent.

On behalf of the Committee, I also extend our thanks to the Committee staff for their hard and intensive work throughout the process.