Clause 42
Charities Bill [Lords]
5:45 pm
Peter Bottomley (Worthing West, Conservative)
May I use this opportunity to follow what the Minister said about the Society of Friends—the Quakers? He helpfully observed that, in new section 74D(4)(b) as proposed to be inserted in the 1993 Act by section 42, the words
“decision taken without a vote and without any expression of dissent”
are taken to mean that if a body—including the Society of Friends—took a decision after discussion, without a vote and without dissent, that would have the same effect as if the resolution had been passed by two thirds of the members entitled to vote and attending. Will the Minister consider over the summer whether there ought to be a general provision so that, instead of having to put such provisions into all sorts of legislation, there would be a catch-all that would operate in situations that would affect organisations such as the Society of Friends? Alternatively, could he ask the Society of Friends whether there are other provisions—perhaps for incorporated charities rather than unincorporated ones—that it might be helpful to duplicate?