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Charities Bill [Lords]
12:00 pm
Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour)
Yes, I think that there is not a great difference between us, but we need to be careful about amending the Bill, because inclusion in clause 2(2) suggests that there is a public benefit in improving the environment and in animal welfare and so on. We regard those as part of what my hon. Friend the Member for Bishop Auckland called those we share the planet with. That brings those activities specifically within the ambit of charitable activity. We must not go the further stage of saying that because environmental benefit or any other aspect of the amendment is presumed, someone would be treated as a charity and no more questions would need to be asked.