Matthew Burgess questioned on the Charities Act 2006
26 October 2012
This is the third session of the Public Administration Select Committee’s (PASC) post-legislative scrutiny inquiry into the implementation and operation of the Charities Act 2006. The main focus for the session is the issue of public benefit and charitable status. The Committee will first take evidence from the Independent Schools Council and two public benefit lawyers on the impact of Upper Tribunal’s October 2011 ruling on the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance. The Committee will then take evidence from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church about the case that it is taking to the Charity Tribunal following the Charity Commission’s decision to deny Preston Down Trust, a Plymouth Brethren Gospel Hall, charitable status in June 2012.
Particular issues to be explored may include:
- The role of Parliament in defining “public benefit” in relation to charitable status;
- the lessons for the Charity Commission from the Upper Tribunal’s ruling on public benefit; and
- the impact of the Charity Commission’s decision in the Preston Down Trust case on the charitable status of other faith organisations.
Witness: 9.15am (Panel 1)
- Matthew Burgess, General Secretary, Independent Schools Council
- Francesca Quint, Senior Partner, Radcliffe Chambers
- Philip Kirkpatrick, Partner, Bates Wells Braithwaite
10.15am (Panel 2)
- Garth Christie and Bruce Hazell, Elders, Plymouth Brethren Christian Church
- Nicola Evans, Senior Associate, Bircham Dyson Bell