New Clause 15
Charities Bill [Lords]
3:45 pm
Andrew Turner (Shadow Minister (Charities), Home Affairs; Isle of Wight, Conservative)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Gale, may I endorse the remarks of the Parliamentary Secretary? I am grateful to those whom he has mentioned and my failure to repeat them individually is not an indication that I am not genuinely grateful to them. I am also grateful to him for his forbearance on occasions, assistance on many occasions and genuine agreement and attempt to reach consensus wherever possible on the further proceedings of this Bill.
I am grateful to my hon. Friends and in particular, my hon. Friend the Member for Upminster (Angela Watkinson) for her assistance, to my hon. Friend the Member for Worthing, West for the great knowledge that he has brought to the Bill and to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham in providing a useful “butt”. I also acknowledge the support of my research assistant. I think the job of a virgin Front Bencher depends heavily on the assistance of their research support.
I am grateful to the officials of the Charity Commission which has responded to my frequent letters, and to the hon. Gentleman’s predecessor, the Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the hon. Member for Wythenshawe and Sale, East (Paul Goggins) for having been quick to respond to my many inquiries.